Editorial Roundup: Indiana apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rep. Cindy Ziemke
STATEHOUSE - Indiana lawmakers passed the next two-year state budget this week, which reduces taxpayer-funded debt by over $1 billion, provides opportunities for future tax cuts and reforms, and makes unprecedented investments in K-12 education.
State Rep. Cindy Ziemke (R-Batesville) said the budget is a historic win for all Hoosier students and teachers.
K-12 education, which accounts for half of all state spending, will receive an additional $1.9 billion in new money over the biennium, including $600 million annually to increase teacher pay. This record investment fulfills and exceeds Gov. Eric Holcomb s Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission s recommendations for raising teacher salaries.
State lawmakers promise full funding for schools with virtual learning during pandemic kokomoperspective.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kokomoperspective.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Dec 14, 2020
Mike Smith, chairman of the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission, reveals details from the group’s report about how to increase teacher pay in Indiana Monday. The report includes 37 recommendations to lawmakers and local school districts. (Photo by Erica Irish, TheStatehouseFile.com)
Gov. Eric Holcombâs Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission determined that $600 million per year will be needed to increase teacher pay in Indiana to a competitive average salary, around $60,000 a year.
The commission was created by Holcomb in 2019 and faced criticism for meeting behind closed doors and for not having any members who are teachers, except for one on an advisory council. The commission did conduct a three-stop educator listening tour and received input from more than 1,000 Hoosiers on its website.