IPS: Some families must pay for pre-K after budget cuts
This story will be updated.
Some Indianapolis Public Schools families will start having to pay for pre-K for the 2025-26 school year after this latest state budget didn't include increases to childcare grant funding and the district's pandemic relief funding is now gone.
The district alerted families to the change on June 3 and said it came 'after much consideration of the financial impact on IPS' caused by alterations in the state budget this legislative session and loss of COVID money.
In this latest state budget passed in April, lawmakers did not include an increase in funding for Indiana's popular child care subsidy programs, known as On My Way Pre-K, which helps give low-income families vouchers to use for child care.
IPS had been heavily relying on those vouchers, as well as COVID-19 relief money sent to districts in the past few years, to fund its pre-K program, making it free for every family in the district for at least the past two school years.
However, school districts had to spend those pandemic relief dollars by the end of 2024, and the state announced in December that it would have to bring back its waitlist for the On My Way Pre-K program due to significant growth and not enough funding.
More on the waitlists: Indiana lawmakers expanded access to child care aid. Now there's not enough money
This latest state budget passed by lawmakers did not address those waitlists and instead funded them just enough so families currently using the vouchers wouldn't be affected.
Starting with the upcoming school year, IPS is implementing an income-based sliding scale to help ensure the program can remain funded.
If families qualify and apply for the On My Way Pre-K program, they could still access a pre-K seat in IPS for free, if the voucher program has enough funding. Some families may find themselves on the waitlist for this upcoming school year.
Here is the sliding scale that IPS is implementing for the next school year:
Income-Based Sliding Scale
Cost (Per week)
Free (Qualifies for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid Free — below 130% of Federal Poverty Level)
$0 (MUST complete On My Way Pre-K application to be eligible or have a CCDF voucher)
Reduced (Qualifies for Medicaid Free at 130% to 185% of Federal Poverty Level)
$100/week
Full Pay (Does not qualify for any of the above)
$150/week
To qualify for a voucher, a family's household income must be below 150% of the federal poverty level, or for a family of two, earn below $2,644 per month before taxes.
More on IPS using the vouchers: A new requirement for IPS families seeking pre-K seats is coming next school year
For a family of four, the household's monthly income before tax must be less than $4,019 to qualify for the pre-K voucher. The child's guardian must also be working, going to school, attending job training or looking for a job.
The child must also be four years old by Aug. 1 and plan to start kindergarten next school year.
For families who need help filing out an On My Way Pre-K application, they can email reach out by emailing earlylearningdept@myips.org or call 317-391-1897 or 317-391-7643.
For families needing Spanish-speaking assistance, they should call 317-619-4279.
The district will also be holding an application assistance event from 2-4 p.m. on June 10-11 at the IPS Education Center located at 120 E. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis schools ends free pre-k for all families after budget cuts
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Townhall of concerned Arkansans voice fears over Medicaid, SNAP cuts in Trump's proposed bill
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -In a packed town hall at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library and Learning Center, central Arkansans gathered to voice their concerns about the effects of proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The discussion centered on President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate and its potential to impact those across the country with disabilities, the elderly and low-income families. Faith leaders protest 'big, beautiful bill' One of the most impassioned voices at the town hall was that of William Gerard, a SNAP beneficiary with cerebral palsy who also depends on Medicaid to survive. Unable to work due to his condition, Gerard shared his testimony about how these programs are 'literally life-saving' for him. 'If I didn't have Medicaid, I don't know how I would survive,' said Gerard, who is on a regimen of 10 to 12 medications, some of which cost thousands of dollars. 'Some of my seizure medications, for example, can be in the thousands. With Medicaid paying for it, I might have to pay $2, and that really helps me.' Gerard's story is a poignant reminder of how Medicaid and SNAP provide vital support for millions of Americans. Under the budget reconciliation bill that passed the House of Representatives, $600 billion in cuts to Medicaid could result in nearly 11 million Americans losing coverage over the next decade according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis released Wednesday. For Gerard and approximately 190,000 other Arkansans, these cuts would have catastrophic consequences. Beyond the cuts to Medicaid, the proposed bill also includes steep reductions to SNAP benefits, totaling an estimated $230 billion over the next ten years. Gerard, who receives just $60 in food stamps each month, expressed the challenges this would create. 'I only get $60 in food stamps. So, what's $60 going to buy me?' he asked. 'We need to get Arkansans more food stamps that deserve it, instead of taking it away from us and making us decide what can I eat?' This concern was echoed by others at the meeting, who worried that the cuts to both Medicaid and SNAP would place an even greater burden on already struggling families, according to the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The bill proposes several requirements, including the potential for states to take on more financial responsibility for these programs. The town hall participants discussed the wider implications of these cuts, particularly the snowball effect they would have on the lives of Arkansans. The potential loss of Medicaid coverage alone could leave thousands of individuals without access to necessary healthcare, while the SNAP cuts could push more people into food insecurity, according to the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. According to the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, more than 97,000 people in Arkansas Congressional District 2 could be impacted by the proposed $109 million cut to SNAP. These cuts could devastate families, particularly those with children, since nearly 45% of SNAP enrollees in Arkansas are parents who rely on the program to feed their families, according to . Another significant concern voiced at the town hall was the proposed work requirements that would accompany these cuts. Gerard, who receives both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), expressed his fears for those who, like him, are unable to work due to their disabilities. 'What about the elderly, the disabled, the people who can't work? How are they supposed to make a living?' Gerard asked. 'I went to a school for handicapped children, and I've seen kids who could barely feed themselves, let alone work.' Big, beautiful bill heads to the Senate For many at the town hall, these proposed cuts aren't just about numbers in Washington—they represent the erosion of a safety net for vulnerable citizens who have no other means of support. The bill, if passed, could force these individuals into even more precarious situations, with few options for survival. 'I'm not fighting for just me,' Gerard said. 'I'm fighting for all Arkansans who are struggling to make ends meet, for all of us who depend on Medicaid and food stamps to survive.' The town hall concluded with a clear message: for concerned Arkansans to contact their congressional representatives and 'make their voices heard.' 'Stop and think about what you're doing to Arkansans—those on disability, the elderly, the most vulnerable,' Gerard said. 'If these cuts go through, it's not just about money, it's about survival.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
What A-list economists are saying about Trump's tax bill as Musk rebels against it
Elon Musk has emerged as a highly vocal critic of Trump's "big beautiful bill." The sweeping budget proposal could add $2.4 trillion to the US deficit, the the CBO said this week. Here's what top economists have been saying about the legislation. Elon Musk has departed his role as a "special government employee" in Trump's White House — and he's using his time outside the administration to hammer the GOP spending bill that's a cornerstone of the president's agenda. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination," Musk wrote on X earlier this week. Trump responded by saying Musk's criticism of the legislation is "disappointing." President Trump's tax bill will likely face a vote in the Senate in the coming weeks after passing the House in May. It would reduce the tax rates of lower-income workers, particularly those earning less than $107,200, and eliminate taxes on tips, social security, and overtime. The bill would also cut spending on social programs like Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to low-income Americans. Like Musk, investors and economists are seemingly concerned that the bill will cause the national debt to balloon and further widen the US budget deficit. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said this week that it would grow the deficit by $2.4 trillion over the next decade . Trump and his allies have pushed back, arguing that higher economic growth from lower taxes would help boost government revenue. Here's what top economists are saying about the bill. Despite the lower tax rates for low earners, Swagel said in a May 20 letter that the bill would negatively impact poorer Americans. "CBO estimates that household resources would decrease by an amount equal to about 2 percent of income in the lowest decile (tenth) of the income distribution in 2027 and 4 percent in 2033, mainly as a result of losses of in-kind transfers, such as Medicaid and SNAP," he wrote. "By contrast, resources would increase by an amount equal to 4 percent for households in the highest decile in 2027 and 2 percent in 2033, mainly because of reductions in the taxes they owe." McBride, along with several colleagues at the non-partisan Tax Foundation think tank, said in a May 23 report that while the bill would support economic growth, it wouldn't be enough to offset the revenue loss from tax cuts. "Our preliminary analysis finds the tax provisions included in the House-passed bill would increase long-run GDP by 0.8 percent," the report said. "The bill's tax and spending changes would increase the 10-year budget deficit by $2.6 trillion from 2025 through 2034 on a conventional basis before added interest costs. On a dynamic basis, accounting for economic growth, the deficit would increase by $1.7 trillion over ten years before interest costs." It continued: "The bill's tax provisions alone would reduce federal tax revenue by $4.1 trillion from 2025 through 2034 on a conventional basis before added interest costs. On a dynamic basis, accounting for economic growth, the revenue reduction would fall by nearly 22 percent to $3.2 trillion over 10 years before added interest costs." Six Nobel Prize-winning economists — including Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, Peter Diamond, Paul Krugman, Oliver Hart, and Joseph Stiglitz — said in a June 2 letter that the bill would worsen wealth inequality in the US. "The combination of cuts to key safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP and tax cuts disproportionately benefiting higher-income households means that the House budget constitutes an extremely large upward redistribution of income. Given how much this bill adds to the U.S. debt, it is shocking that it still imposes absolute losses on the bottom 40% of U.S households," the letter said. "The House bill addresses none of the nation's key economic challenges usefully and exacerbates many of them," it added. Rogoff, former chief economist at the IMF, cast doubt on the notion that the bill would boost growth in a piece for Project Syndicate this week. "Trump and his acolytes argue that his "big, beautiful bill" will supercharge economic growth, generating enough revenue to make up for sweeping tax cuts. But history offers little support for such claims," he wrote. "While both Democratic-led spending sprees and Republican-backed tax cuts have fueled the growth of US debt over the past two decades, tax reductions have accounted for the lion's share of the increase. Moreover, the notion that tax cuts pay for themselves was already discredited in the 1980s, when President Ronald Reagan's tax cuts led to soaring deficits rather than self-sustaining growth." He added: "Will America's rising debt ultimately trigger a full-blown crisis? Perhaps, but a continued upward drift in long-term interest rates is more likely." Lachman, a former IMF official who currently works for a conservative-leaning think tank, said in a June 4 post that rising bond yields, a declining dollar, and appreciating gold prices could be harbingers of an economic crisis brought on by Trump-driven policy volatility. Trump's tax bill is adding to investors' fears due to its inflationary implications. But one of its clauses undermines confidence in the reliability of the returns on Treasurys, he said. "That bill includes a clause that has to be sending shivers down foreign investors' spines. According to Section 899, the US Treasury can impose additional taxes of up to 20 percent on income earned by foreign entities from countries that enact taxes deemed 'unfair' to US interests." Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tarrant Area Food Bank fights hunger amid historic SNAP cut proposals
The Brief The Tarrant Area Food Bank is partnering with local farmers for a summer market, providing fresh produce to the community. These efforts come as proposed federal cuts could reduce SNAP benefits by an estimated $300 billion through 2034, which would be the largest cut to the program in history. If adopted, the cuts would significantly increase demand on local food banks, which are already seeing high need. FORT WORTH, Texas - The Tarrant Area Food Bank started a summer partnership to provide access to fresh produce. Now more than ever, the food bank is concerned about proposed cuts to federal benefits and the possible impact on North Texans. Local perspective Several local growers are at the farmers' market with freshly grown produce. It's the Tarrant Area Food Bank's way of supporting these small farmers and providing healthy food to the community. It comes at a time when there could be major changes at the federal level as it applies to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP benefits. The food bank earlier today hosted a virtual discussion about the congressional developments playing out. They pointed out that in the house-passed version of the current bill, it would reflect a $300 billion cut to the SNAP program through 2034. What they're saying The CEO of the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Julie Butner, believes the federal cuts to SNAP, if adopted, would make efforts like this farmers market and other food bank programs extremely crucial in meeting the needs of consumers and snap program recipients. "The federal reductions in SNAP benefits that have been proposed, and today are with the Senate, are quite concerning, because when these neighbors lose the SNAP benefit. If it is cut, then naturally they will be turning to the local food bank, the Tarrant Area Food Bank and our 500 partner agencies to fill the gap," said Butner. Feeding Texas is a statewide network of food banks leading a unified effort to end hunger in Texas. Feeding Texas' Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Jami Olson, states this would be the largest cut to SNAP in history. "It represents a 30 percent cut to our nation's most important and effective anti-hunger program. If this bill is enacted it would represent the largest cut to SNAP in our nation's history," said Olson. What's next As of early June 2025, the federal cuts are still proposed cuts moving through the legislative process. The Source Information in this article was provided by the Tarrant Area Food Bank and Feeding Texas representatives.
