The Obama administration has emphasized on the importance of public K through 12 education and dedicated $53 billion of the treaty act to education and training. Indiana has received $1.3 million from this increase in public education funding.
The school funding formula which according to Senator Simpson changes every few years is structured to equalize education funding. According to Senator Simpson partisan politics over education funding should be in advantage of students rather than preventing the funding formula which is the distribution of money to different schools.
Due to loss of funding in many schools across Indiana, Rep. Matt Pierce suggests a reformulation of education funding. A decline in enrolments at urban and rural schools as opposed to suburban schools has caused an increase of funding for suburban schools causing a shortage in funding for smaller schools.
MCCSC controller, Tim Thrasher says due to the economic crisis and decline in the number of retiring teachers, school funding formula is the worst that has been in many years.

Tags: Ann Shea, public k-12 education, Rep. Matt Pierce, Senator Vi Simpson, Stan Jastrzebski, Tim Thrasher

Some Indiana schools are altering curriculums in favor of more modern teaching methods. Bloomington New Technology High School teacher Loren Wood explains that a combination of traditional and modern education models are needed to improve the education system. A strong subject area background for teachers and the method of communicating and delivering information to students is necessary.
According to Indiana University Dean of the School of Education, Gerardo Gonzalez, overall Indiana had a small increase in education funding. However, some areas such as professional development for teachers faced a decrease in funding.
Rep. Matt Pierce discusses how creating a specific formula for funding is both a positive approach and a difficult one to construct and follow considering the limited amount of funding offered to education.
MCCSC controller, Tim Thrasher says that less prosperous and privileged schools in Indiana are in need of an increase in funding. Thrasher suggests balancing and equalizing funding received by all schools and later increasing funding for smaller schools would provide a solution to the funding issue.
While a strong education system is necessity for any democratic society, authorities are creating ways to improve the American education system. Gonzalez says increasing and combining education methods and concentrating on quality teaching is a step toward improvement in education.

Tags: Gerardo Gonzalez, Loren Wood, Public Education K-12, Rep. Matt Pierce, Senator Vi Simpson, Tim Thrasher

Indiana’s department of education’s proposal for changes in licensing teachers will lead to stronger content in teaching materials. However this change in method will cause a reduction in pedagogy and field training for teachers. MCCSC Controller Tim Thrasher says a shift in requirements for teachers is a great concern for public schools in Monroe County.
Rep. Matt Pierce states that shift in education policy might lead to support of private education. Pierce says that the reason behind support for private education is the creation of competition among public and private schools.
Indiana University Dean of school of education Gerardo Gonzalez says, “Current Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recognizes that teacher quality and an investment in infrastructure to support education is very important.”
Gonzalez says that in comparison to other states, Indiana’s education system is at the top of the rankings. He says that realizing the strengths of Indiana’s education system and investing on these strengths can be beneficial to the state of education. According to Thrasher Monroe County has “tested well compared to other schools” but there is still room for improvement.

Tags: Gerardo Gonzalez, Public Education K-12, Rep. Matt Pierce, Senator Vi Simpson, Tim Thrasher