Governor Pence Tours Local Public Charter School

Statement

Governor Mike Pence today met with teachers and administrators at Herron High School, a public charter school in Indianapolis, to highlight the importance of charter school funding in the upcoming budget. Herron High School has received an A grade for the last five years and had a 98 percent graduation rate last year.

Currently, public charter schools receive less funding per student than traditional public schools in the same setting and Governor Pence renewed his call for increasing charter school funding by $1,500 per student. The House-passed budget provided up to a $1,500 grant per student.

"We must fund excellence in education at every level for all of Indiana's kids and provide more equitable funding for every child, including those attending our public charter schools," said Governor Pence. "With Indiana lagging behind other states in charter school funding, I urge the members of the General Assembly to support my call to increase per pupil funding so that great schools like Herron High School can continue to provide innovative education alternatives for Indiana's kids."

The administration highlighted a report released in April 2014 by the Department of Education Reform at University of Arkansas. In the report, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," Indiana is listed as the 6th lowest state in charter school funding out of the 30 states with charter school systems.

"This report shows the funding gap in Indiana is widening between traditional public school students and public charter students," said Governor Pence. "We want to be sure that all students, regardless of where they go to school, are funded as fairly as possible with equal opportunities for success."

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