The Impacts of Budget Reductions on Indiana’s Public Schools

Abstract

In recent years, economic downturn and changes to Indiana’s school funding have resulted in significant financial reductions in General Fund allocations for many of Indiana’s public school corporations. The purposes of this three-year statewide study are to explore the possible impacts of these budget changes on class sizes, teaching position reductions, and student achievement indicators. Methods of data collection include a superintendent’s survey, a compilation of student standardized test scores, and an evaluation of financial records for participating school districts. Currently, year two is complete with 87 school corporations participating in both years of the study. Descriptive statistics reveal sizeable budget cuts across the state, significant reductions in instructional personnel, a rise in average class sizes, and an increase in standardized test scores. This inquiry provides needed information regarding the depth and breadth of school budget cuts, instructional position reductions, and current data regarding average class sizes for Indiana’s public schools.