Bill proposes using ‘found money’ for full-day kindergarten

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Updated: February 26, 2012 8:12AM

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana schools could see an additional $80 million for full-day kindergarten.

The extra funding is possible after state officials discovered funds were being misplaced from corporate income taxes paid by electronic checks.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels announced in December the state found $288 million in those funds. State Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, is proposing full-day kindergarten funding come from the aproximate $100 million he expects the state will collect annually from those e-checks.

Espich said he expects the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the bill Wednesday.

The bill would increase the per-student grant for full-day kindergarten from $1,227 to $2,400 for next school year.

“Everybody here, Republicans and Democrats alike, claim education is their No. 1 priority,” Espich said. “We certainly believe that. The best thing we can do for K-12 is put additional funds toward full-day kindergarten.”

Merrillville Community Schools Superintendent Tony Lux said even with that increase, schools wouldn’t be able to fund full-day kindergarten fully because the state funding formula still counts all kindergarten students as half a student.

“Everybody recognizes the kids — not only those behind academically but all students — can benefit by going to school full day at that age. The expectations continue to rise each year,” Lux said. 

He said full-day kindergarten is more valuable now that third graders are required to read at grade level in order to advance to the fourth grade.

“The curriculum needs to be just as comprehensive in kindergarten as in first grade,” Lux said. “The standards are so much higher than 10 years ago. What used to be more of a social curriculum now has a greater academic emphasis.”

The bill would also give an additional $5 million to victims of the Indiana State Fair stage collapse tragedy.

The bill is designed not to use the full amount of the funds the state will collect going forward, Espich said.

“You don’t always have to spend every dollar you get,” Espich said. “There will be those who will find fault with my aggressive use of this money currently. So I think we’ve established those who are most deserving and that again is K-12 and the state fair victims. Frankly, I think it’s unwise to use more of our reserves until we know a little more where we’re going.”

Post-Tribune reporter Christin Nance
Lazerus contributed to this article.