School board members are learning more about a new measure approved by the state legislature concerning education materials.
Argos Community School Superintendent Ned Speicher said the board there approved education materials for students in grades K-12 for the 2023-2024 school year.
“It used to be textbook rental, but now that’s education material,” explained Speicher. “There won’t be textbook rental to the parents for the first time in the State of Indiana next year. It’ll be paid by part of the state grant”
Speicher talked more about what the funding looks like in this change.
Speicher continued, “We claim what our costs are per grade level and the State has set so much money aside and they will distribute a portion of our claims. So, it’s not totally a funded thing. It’s sort of partially funded. An example of textbook rental costs like student iPads and textbooks and materials runs about $200 a student. The State has told us they will reimburse us up to $161 per student.”
He said the unfunded portion will likely come from the Education Fund from the budget, but those costs have not been factored into this year’s budget as this just took effect in this year’s legislative session. It will be a factor when the budget process begins for 2024 and for subsequent budget discussions.
