WHEREAS, the Indiana General Assembly during its 2021 legislative session is considering HB 1005, SB 412, and SB 413 bills that establish Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and dramatically increase funding for school choice scholarships; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned entities ("Entities") believe that such legislation divert much needed resources from public schools; and
WHEREAS, the Entities believe that this type of legislation does not give choice to families but to nonpublic schools as nonpublic schools can choose who they educate and public funds should only be used for education that is open and inclusive to all Indiana students; and
WHEREAS, the Entities believe that public schools provide a strong educational environment for Indiana's children while this legislation, if enacted, would put this environment at risk by directing resources away from public schools to nonpublic schools which are not subject to the same rigorous scrutiny for their use of taxpayer resources.
NOW THEREFORE, the Entities strongly oppose HB1005 and urge Legislators to vote NO to HB1005, SB 412, SB 413 and any other legislation that directs funding away from Indiana public schools.
