Indiana lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill that would further expand school choice for Hoosiers but rolled back certain provisions that would have made the program universally accessible.

The bill to widen eligibility for the state’s education scholarship accounts advanced 8-5 from the Senate Education Committee. Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, joined Democrats in voting against the measure. It now heads to the Appropriations Committee.

GOP senators who support the bill, said it would give families more options and ensure that students who don’t qualify for the program now — but want to — can participate.

Still, critics say they’re concerned about how much universal education scholarship accounts would cost and whether the state can afford to fund all students who are eligible to participate. Democrats maintain, too, that the program expansion would pull additional dollars away from already cash-strapped public schools.

ESA Expansion And Other Education Bills Move Ahead

Currently, Indiana’s Education Scholarship Account program is limited to students who qualify for special education.

Although the first draft of the bill, authored by Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon, would have extended the program to all students — regardless of a student’s educational needs or their family’s income level — an amended version approved on Wednesday includes language to reserve half the appropriation just for special education students.

The latest language also limits eligibility to match income requirements in place for the state’s voucher program, known as Choice Scholarships.

The income ceiling is high, however. A family of four can make up to $154,000 annually — equal to 300% of the amount required for a student to qualify for the federal free or reduced price lunch program.

For children who qualify and don’t attend public school, the state will give an average of $7,500 to parents to use for private school tuition, homeschool or other educational expenses.

The previous state budget appropriated $10 million a year for the program, enough to fund about 1,300 ESAs. Fiscal year 2023 is the first year the program enrolled students. The treasurer’s office reports that 143 students are participating in the program this year.

Buchanan said he’s seeking the same $10 million for ESA funding in the next biennium, noting that the program will be “first come, first served” if the number of students who want an ESA exceeds the state cap.

Several other measures also moved forward Wednesday.

That included a bill to require all Indiana students — beginning with the Class of 2028 — to take a personal finance course before they graduate from high school.

Schools would have to offer a stand-alone course with curriculum centered around life skills like opening a bank account, applying for loans and filling out tax returns. It’s one of five bills that would make personal finance a graduation requirement.

State senators heard mixed testimony on a separate bill that places restrictions on high school graduation waivers and doubles down that schools can have dress codes.

Wide supports for bills aimed at literacy improvement

The House Education Committee on Wednesday focused on a handful of bills that seek to improve Indiana’s dismal literacy rates among younger students.

Two bills would increase training and classroom support to help educators address those declining literacy rates, especially in elementary and middle schools. Both bills passed unanimously out of the committee and will now be considered by the full House chamber.

One measure, authored by Rep. Jake Teshka, R-South Bend, responds to a request from Gov. Eric Holcomb to establish a $20 million incentive program that rewards schools and K-3 teachers that improve students’ passing rate for the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination, also called the IREAD-3 test.

The governor’s goal is for 95% of all Indiana third graders to pass the IREAD exam by 2027.

Teshka’s bill creates a $20 million Science of Reading Grant Fund to place literacy instructional coaches in elementary schools, increase science of reading training for teachers and help incorporate science of reading curriculum in local and statewide schooling requirements.

Teshka’s bill overlaps with the other, HB 1590, authored by committee chairman Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis.

The measures require that starting in the 2024-2025 school year, the State Board of Education and Indiana Department of Education would be required to adopt academic standards for reading that are based on the science of reading.

The bill also requires teachers to show proficiency in science of reading instruction and to obtain a science of reading certification in order to be licensed to teach in an elementary school.

Literacy fell considerably during the pandemic. Just 81.6% out of the 65,000 third graders at public and private schools in Indiana passed the 2022 exam. The Indiana Department of Education’s goal is that 95% of students in third grade can read proficiently by 2027.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections.

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