Indianapolis Public Schools educators are looking for ways to continue paying for reading and tutoring programs as schools across the country prepare for a major funding cliff.
The federal government awarded billions of dollars to schools in the years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That funding proved to be a welcome boost for districts like IPS — doubling in some years the district’s typical federal funding.
But as a September deadline approaches to use the last of the federal money, district leaders are studying what programs introduced during the pandemic work, which to continue and where to find the money for those programs moving forward.
This all comes as state lawmakers this year focus their attention on student literacy, with proposals to require summer school and hold back more third graders who do not demonstrate reading proficiency.
“We know that these (federal) dollars have been impactful and will continue to be impactful for this year,” IPS Strategy Analyst John Isaacson told the IPS board in a meeting last week. “It does not solve sustainability, because we know these (federal) dollars are limited.”
How did IPS budget its COVID money?
The federal government directed nearly $217.5 million to IPS over three rounds of funding. Deadlines to spend the first two rounds of federal dollars have already passed. IPS, like many other districts, used its share of the dollars.
As of December, the district has spent 72% of its COVID-19 budget, corporation leaders said in a school board meeting last week, just shy of the state’s average of 73%.
For IPS, that means about $62 million is left to use by this September, and district officials say they’ve already budgeted how to spend it.
The federal funding comes with requirements. Schools were largely instructed to use their first round of funding for expenses that helped reopen schools after prolonged closures, such as cleaning supplies or new technology for virtual learning.
Other rounds allowed a wider range of uses, but encouraged spending that helped students catch up academically after time spent out of the classroom.
So far, IPS has used the greatest amount of its COVID-19 budget for return-to-classroom expenses followed by support for student learning. The district’s budget includes:
- $76.2 million for keeping schools open. This includes avoiding staff cuts early in the pandemic, supporting nursing services and funding air quality projects. The district has $18.4 million left to spend.
- $46.7 million to ramp up math and language arts learning. This includes tutoring, professional development for staff and other school supports. IPS has $30.6 million left to spend here.
- $8.1 million to increase in-person attendance and enrollment. This includes support for enrichment programs and community partnerships. The district has $3.6 million remaining in this budget.
- $4 million to help students graduate. This includes funding for student advising centers, graduation coaches and credentialing for teachers. IPS has $2.7 million remaining for this.
- $5.6 million to administer the federal funds. This includes money put toward administrative salaries, strategic planning and other indirect costs. $3.1 million of this money is left.
- $14.4 million is money shared with other schools. Indiana requires IPS to share a portion of its pandemic funds with innovation schools in and out of the district.
Where will IPS invest next?
As September nears, the district will need to make a decision about programs supported by COVID dollars. Isaacson said that means officials will either need to sunset programs at the end of the year or pull money from other areas to continue funding its highest priorities.
The strategy analyst said sustainability will be key in the district’s use of remaining money. Training for teachers, for example, can be a long-term investment as educators infuse the training they receive now into their class lessons for years to come.
IPS already has leaned into the strategy by training its teachers on the science of reading, which is an education model that applies neuroscience research to the understanding of how students learn to read.
Indiana lawmakers passed legislation last year requiring schools to adopt curriculum aligned with the methodology.
The district has paired its teacher training with additional tutoring opportunities for students. IPS provides some of its tutoring in partnership with community organizations and will explore other ways to continue high-dosage tutoring in select schools after the COVID money is spent.
“We are always looking for additional funding through external funding sources,” Isaacson said.
The district also is working with an outside education organization called Chiefs of Change to study which of its programs provide the highest academic returns, what can be sustained and what might need changed or discontinued. Isaacson said the organization will study IPS’ investments in education and compare them with those of districts across the country.
Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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