Groups of protesters gathered outside the Statehouse Wednesday to argue against a proposal that would cut funding to some state schools.
Major changes to the state's school funding formula are favored by Republicans who make up the majority in both chambers of the General Assembly. If passed, those changes could cause some schools to miss out on a valued funding increase each year.
In short, the proposal would shortchange districts with smaller or stable enrollment. For rural or low-income areas, this could serve as a major set back to students statewide.
And, in an era with the "No Child Left Behind" Act, we see no reason for this to happen.
Without hesitating, some may point to the state's budget deficit to defend this move. There is no new news regarding the condition of the state's bank account: It's hurting. We know this. However, in his Jan. 18 State of the State address, Governor Mitch Daniels spoke on the changes (or lack thereof) that Indiana's education system may see as a result of the state's massive budget deficit.
"Education, both K-12 and post-secondary, must play essential roles in fiscal recovery by managing temporarily with current levels of state funding, no less but no more," Daniels said.
No more, but more importantly, no less. Now, the issue of changing the state's school funding formula is not exactly the same as shrinking the state's deficit. Essentially, it's shaping the same amount of money into different schools and areas.
Regardless, it still could put some students at a serious disadvantage.
Indiana already ranks below average on per-student spending, according to SchoolMatters.com, a public service site that provides statistics on U.S. public schools. In 2002, Indiana spent an average of $8,657 per student in total expenditures. The national average was $8,848 that year: a $191 difference. While that may seem like a small amount to schools, it can mean a world of academic difference.
Nonetheless, with his words, Daniels made clear that education should not be passed off for the sake of saving money. Recent statistics help prove that very thought, as well.
A U.S. Census Bureau survey released Monday showed that Indiana ranked 46th of the 50 states in the percentage of people 25 and older who have earned bachelor's or graduate degrees. Although the number (at 21.1) was up nearly 2 percent from the 2000 census, it's still nowhere near where the state should be. The national average was 28 percent.
Now, this number can be partially attributed to Indiana's "Brain Drain," or the lack of Indiana-educated students who remain in the state after graduation, but stronger school systems across Indiana may help to clog some of that drain by encouraging graduates to keep their lives and families in the Hoosier state.
At least then, no one will be left behind.
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