Troubling news in the funding for public education debate of late--it seems that the Governor's budget cuts IPS's budget by almost $77 million by 2011. Critiques of the Indianapolis urban school district are legion and should be talked about but a cut like this would certainly be a step backward and, of course, take even more from the students with the greatest needs. Alternative & magnet programs, class size, English as New Language instruction, and professional development would all suffer (not to mention art & music which is always the first to go). Another factor to consider to is that the children of Indiana are getting poorer (see Indiana Youth Institute) and the number of students served by IPS that meet the federal standard for homelessness is now over 1600! As Sheila Kennedy states in her article, the time for leadership in relation to this city's children is now.
Avoid fatal blow to IPS by Sheila Seuss Kennedy
That said, one of the most monumental threats facing Indianapolis in this round of budget cuts is the potential to effectively destroy Indianapolis Public Schools -- and thus deliver a mortal wound to economic and community development in Indianapolis.
The House/Senate budget proposal that failed in April would have meant a $47 million loss to IPS over the next two years. After the last revenue forecast, Gov. Mitch Daniels told lawmakers to cut more; his numbers would mean an additional $11 million lost to IPS. Read More at: http://www.indystar.com/article/20090608/OPINION12/906080310/1301/ARCHIVE/Avoid+fatal+blow+to+IPS
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