Indiana’s highest performing schools would be freed from several state regulations under legislation headed to the Indiana House.
Senator Mike Delph’s (R-Carmel) legislation grew out of schools in his district asking for greater flexibility from the state. Delph says his bill is all about rewarding the state’s highest-performing school districts with more freedom.
“Freedom over their curriculum, freedom over academically gifted students and programs, freedom over vocational education and training.”
Senator Mark Stoops (D-Bloomington), who voted against Delph’s bill, says he’s in favor of the concept of rewarding high-performing schools but fears what the proposal might lead to.
“I’m just concerned that that’s going to lead to the next level of funding only being focused on those high-performing schools at the expense of lower-performing schools that might need more focused funding.”
Governor Mike Pence’s proposed budget includes a performance-based education funding increase in its second year. Delph says his bill has nothing to do with school funding.
