STATEHOUSE (Jan. 26, 2021) – State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) and the Indiana House of Representatives today voted in support of legislation to fully fund all K-12 public school students for the 2020-21 school year, regardless of whether students attended classes in-person or virtually due to COVID-19.
King said the pandemic caused many traditional public schools to shift from in-person classes to remote learning. Under current law, schools receive 85% of tuition support per virtual student, which is defined as a child learning 50% or more of their instruction online. This means many schools would qualify for the lower funding amount because of moving classes online. The legislation, which now advances to the Senate for consideration, would help mitigate requirements under current law and allow K-12 public schools to receive 100% funding for each student, whether they attended classes in-person or virtually.
"As a former school board member, I understand our schools have navigated through many challenges since the pandemic hit," King said. "The overwhelming approval of this bill underscores the tremendous respect we have for the work of our schools in educating our students and doing so under unprecedented circumstances."
To learn more about House Bill 1003 and watch legislative proceedings online, visit iga.in.gov.
-30-
State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) represents House District 49, which includes the eastern portion of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
