Bill To Fully Fund Virtual Students In Public Schools Passes Committee

Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 9:15 AM

By State Senator Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond), news release

The bill would support schools that have had to dramatically change their operations during COVID-19.

Shutterstock photo.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - A bill authored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) that would fully fund students attending school virtually, passed unanimously in the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development today.

Under current law, public schools receive 85% of the per-student state funding for any student who gets at least half of their education virtually.

Senate Bill 2 would provide 100% of the state's per-student funding for students at brick-and-mortar public schools who have gone to virtual instruction for part or all of the 2020-2021 academic year, so long as those students weren't already learning virtually prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Because of the impact COVID-19 has had on most schools, virtual education is the new normal for many kids," Raatz said. "This bill would support schools that have had to dramatically change their operations to adapt to this new form of education."

Given its fiscal impact, SB 2 will now be considered by the Senate Committee on Appropriations. To learn more about SB 2, visit iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/senate/2.