♪ >> BIDEN'S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PLAN.

SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES CHOSEN QUICKLY.

PLUS, THE 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM UNDERUTILIZED AND MORE ON INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 26, 2022.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS.

>> THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CANCEL $10,000 OF FEDERAL STUDENT DEBT FOR EACH BORROWER EARNING LESS THAN $125,000.

PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS MAY HAVE AS MUCH AS $20,000 FORGIVEN, AND NO BORROWERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY MORE THAN 5 PERCENT OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOME.

THE AVERAGE INDIANA BORROWER OWES NEARLY 33 THOUSAND DOLLARS - ABOUT THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE STUDENT DEBT.

REPUBLICANS ARE SHARPLY CRITICIZING THE PLAN, SAYING IT WILL TRANSFER THAT STUDENT DEBT TO ALL TAXPAYERS.

AND THEY FEAR IT WILL FURTHER FUEL INFLATION, WHILE CHARGING THAT IT'S NOT LEGAL FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DO ANYWAY.

IN A STATEMENT, U.S.

SENATOR MIKE BRAUN SAID "WE SHOULD FOCUS ON GETTING MORE VALUE OUT OF COLLEGES RATHER THAN GIVING THEM ANOTHER REASON TO HIKE PRICES."

INDIANA DEMOCRATS SAY THE LOAN FORGIVENESS WILL HELP MANY HOOSIERS STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION.

AND IN A STATEMENT, STATE PARTY SPOKESPERSON DREW ANDERSON SAYS REPUBLICANS CRITICIZING THE PLAN HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE "$2 TRILLION TAX CUT FOR BIG CORPORATIONS AND THE RICH - A DECISION THAT ADDED $8 TRILLION TO THE NATIONAL DEBT."

WILL THIS STUDENT DEBT FORGIVENESS PLAN HELP HOOSIERS?

IT'S THE FIRST QUESTION FOR OUR INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW PANEL: DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN, JON SCHWANTES, HOST OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND NIKI KELLY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE.

I'M INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF BRANDON SMITH.

MIKE, 900,000 HOOSIERS AFFECTED.

DO REPUBLICANS LOOK GOOD STRIDENTLY OPPOSING THIS?

>> NO, THEY DON'T.

MIKE BRAUN'S COMMENTS ARE THE MOST THOUGHTFUL IN THIS.

LOOK AT THE CAUSE.

WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE CAUSE.

AS BORROWING LIMITS WERE FLEXED AND THE CEILINGS WERE RAISED, THE CORRESPONDING INFLATION IN HIGHER ED WERE COLLEGES ARE NINE TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE NOW ON AVERAGE SINCE 1980 WHEN THOSE LIMITS WERE FLEXED.

OF COURSE HIGHER ED WAS GOING TO FLOOD THAT SPACE.

THE ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE POINTING TO AS A CAUSE ARE TRUE.

IF I'M 30 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T BUY A HOUSE BECAUSE OF MY STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT, I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HALF OF A CENTURY OF STUDENT LOAN FUNDING THAN I AM ABOUT CHANGING THIS.

I WAS IN THIS POSITION.

MY MOM WAS GREAT ON EDUCATING HERSELF ON EVEN HOW TO TAKE A STUDENT LOAN.

THAT'S A PROCESS UNFAMILIAR TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER ON.

>> I HAD STUDENT LOANS AND I WORKED.

BUT COMING OUT OF COLLEGE, IT WASN'T INSIGNIFICANT TO HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST CHECK YOU'RE WRITING EVERY MONTH TO BE A STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT.

TO OUTRIGHT SAY THIS IS GOING TO ADD TO INFLATION, IT'S HITTING THE MAILBOXES TODAY.

BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSE AND GET A FEW TANKS OF GAS, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH OF AN ARGUMENT ENOUGH TO BE AGAINST IT WHEN IT'S GOING TO HELP SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> THEY'RE RIGHT.

BUT IS IT ENOUGH OF A REASON TO OPPOSE THIS PLAN?

>> IT'S NOT.

LIKE MIKE WAS SAYING.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE CAUGHT NOW BETWEEN MAKING HIGHER ED MORE AFFORDABLE, AND PART OF THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO PUT STATE MONEY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION IN HIGHER AMOUNTS THAN WE HAVE.

THAT'S PART OF THE ROOT CAUSE AND WHY THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS WE ARE STILL PROVIDING GOVERNMENT PROTECTION FOR FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KIDS THAT ARE NOT SOPHISTICATED WITH UNSOPHISTICATED PARENTS, WHO SIGN UP FOR PROGRAMS AND GIVE THEM UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY'LL MAKE WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE, AND SADDLE THEM WITH DEBT THAT I SEE IN MY PRACTICE IN BANKRUPTCY.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE 60 AND OVER WITH SIGNIFICANT, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT $10,000, I'M TALKING ABOUT $100,000 OR $200,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD.

THIS IS A FIRST STEP.

IT'S NOT THE ONLY STEP THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.

BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP AND IT'S GOING TO HELP 900,000 HOOSIERS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MIKE BRAUN ARGUE TO THOSE 900,000 THAT THEY SHOULDN'T GET IT OR IT CONTRIBUTES TO INFLATION WHEN THE TAX CUTS THAT DONALD TRUMP PUT IN PUT MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF RICH PEOPLE.

>> THERE'S A FINANCIAL LITERACY PIECE TO IT.

WHEN YOU'RE 18 AND YOU SHOW UP.

>> WE DON'T DO A GOOD JOB IN K-12 ON EDUCATING KIDS ON FINANCES.

THAT'S TRUE.

>> PART OF THE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN WE'RE TRANSFERRING THE DEBTS OF THESE BORROWERS ONTO EVERYBODY'S BACKS.

DO YOU NOTICE WHEN THE NATIONAL DEBT GOES UP?

>> I NOTICE WHEN I SEE IT IN HEADLINES.

YEAH.

>> THE CHECK YOU'RE WRITING TO THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T -— .

>> RIGHT, MY TAXES ARE MY TAXES.

THERE'S ALSO THE WHOLE THING OF I GET WHAT THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE HELPING SOME PEOPLE BUT NOT OTHERS, BUT WE CAN SAY THAT ABOUT EVERY PROGRAM, RIGHT?

SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, BUT THEY STILL SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND PAY THEIR TAXES TO SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE ARGUMENT MAY BE REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE MAKING INSTEAD IS THE LEGALITY.

I DO THINK THERE'S A LEGITIMATE.

NANCY PELOSI LAST YEAR SAID HE HAS THE ABILITY TO PAUSE AND DELAY BUT NOT CANCEL, ONLY CONGRESS CAN DO THAT.

THAT'S A BETTER ARGUMENT, I THINK, THAT THEY COULD TAKE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING THERE.

>> IS THIS, TALKING ABOUT WHETHER GOING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION, DO REPUBLICANS LOOK GOOD OPPOSING THIS THE WAY THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, THIS GOES BACK TO SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

THE DEMOCRATS' ARGUMENT IS HERE, WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR STUDENT LOANS.

THE REPUBLICANS' ARGUMENT IS WELL, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU ABOUT WHY THAT'S A PROBLEM.

HAVE THEY ALREADY LOST IT?

>> I THINK THEY PROBABLY HAVE.

THIS IS A VERY CUT AND DRY ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DEBT.

>> OR HAVE KIDS IN DEBT.

>> AND HAVE BEEN CRYING FOR RELIEF.

I ALWAYS TRY TO AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

WHEN I CAN'T AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, I TRY TO DISCLOSE THEM.

I HAVE TWO.

ONE IS 25 YEARS OLD AND ONE IS 21 YEARS OLD.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY 21-YEAR-OLD DIDN'T REACH THE THRESHOLD IN TERMS OF GETTING HER LOANS IN TIME.

ONE SON JUST STARTED A NEW JOB THREE WEEKS AGO.

THIS IS HUGE FOR HIM.

AND FOR THE OTHER ONE, TOO.

AND FOR MOM AND DAD.

IT'S FUNNY HOW THAT HAPPENS.

IT'S HARD TO POLITICALLY SAY THAT'S A BAD MOVE FOR DEMOCRATS TO OFFER THIS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THIS SORT OF RELIEF.

AND I ALSO THINK WHILE YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT, NIKI, ABOUT THE LEGALITY, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE BLOWBACK IF REPUBLICANS ARE SEEN, AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF NATIONAL PROBLEMS, WOULD THAT BE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THEM TO PICK, TO APPEAR MISERLY.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE SAW WITH THE HEALTHCARE DEBATE.

REPUBLICANS WERE FIGHTING IT IN COURT BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A PLAN FOR WHAT TO DO IF THEY WON.

A SIMILAR SITUATION COULD ARISE HERE.

>> ANN MAKES A GOOD POINT, TOO.

WHEN I WAS AT IU, AND LET'S ROUND THIS OFF.

ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY WAS STATE DOLLARS.

NOW IT'S ABOUT A THIRD.

AND MORE STRINGS ARE ATTACHED THAN EVER.

YOU GET THE MONEY, BUT IT COMES WITH A STRAIGHT JACKET.

SO, YES, SCHOOLS PROBABLY ARE BUILDING PALACES BEYOND WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS, PERHAPS, BUT IT IS A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND THEY NEED TO DO THAT TO ATTRACT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST.

BUT THE STATE TO GO FROM TWO-THIRDS TO ONE-THIRD, IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG.

>> TAKE THE EMOTION OUT.

I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD AND I WENT TO I.U.

I'M NOT TAKING PURDUE OFF THE LIST.

WHY WOULD I TAKE THE LOWEST COST, BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY WHEN I LIVE.

>> ARE YOU PICKING PURDUE OVER IU?

>> WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS MY FRIENDS LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M AN IDIOT.

I'M NOT PICKING A BASKETBALL TEAM.

I'M WRITING A $100,000 CHECK TO SEND A KID TO COLLEGE.

I WOULD LIKE THAT TO MATCH WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO FOR A LIVING.

>> THIS WEEK'S QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT PRES.

BIDEN'S PLAN TO FORGIVE UP TO $10,000 IN STUDENT DEBT FOR THOSE EARNING LESS THAN $125,000?

A.

YES B.

NO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN TO INCREASE THE INDIANA STUDENT'S READING PASSAGE.

MOST OF YOU SAY YES.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN THE POLL GO TO WFYI.ORG/IWIR AND LOOK FOR THE POLL.

THE FIELD FOR INDIANA'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE IS NOW SET AS DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES THIS WEEK CHOSE THEIR NOMINEES FOR THIS FALL'S SPECIAL ELECTION.

WVPE'S GEMMA DICARLO REPORTS RUDY YAKYM WAS CHOSEN FROM AMONG 12 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, ON THE FIRST BALLOT, TO REPLACE CONGRESSMAN JACKIE WALORSKI ON THE BALLOT AFTER WALORSKI DIED EARLIER THIS MONTH IN A CAR CRASH.

>> YAKYM IS THE DIRECTOR OF GROWTH INITIATIVES AT KEM KREST, AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR WALORSKI'S CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN.

HE ALSO HAD THE ENDORSEMENT OF WALORSKI'S WIDOWER, DEAN SWIHART.

IN HIS REMARKS, YAKYM SAID HIS FAITH WOULD DRIVE HIS DECISION-MAKING IF HE'S ELECTED TO CONGRESS, AND THAT HE WOULD WORK TO DECREASE THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

RUDY YAKYM: JACKIE WAS A FRIEND TO ALL OF US AND SHE WAS A FRIEND TO ME.

AND WHAT SHE TAUGHT US IS TRUE NOW, MORE THAN EVER: OUR FAITH MATTERS.

>> YAKYM WILL REPRESENT THE GOP IN BOTH A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE REMAINDER OF WALORSKI'S TERM, AND THE GENERAL ELECTION TO DETERMINE DISTRICT 2'S CONGRESSPERSON FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

BOTH ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD NOVEMBER 8TH.

>> DEMOCRATS CHOSE GOSHEN EDUCATOR PAUL STEURY AS THEIR NOMINEE FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION.

STEURY HAD ALREADY WON THE MAY PRIMARY TO BE ON THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT.

WILLIAM HENRY IS THE LIBERTARIAN.

ANN DELANEY, DOES THIS -— THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY HEARTBREAKING SITUATION.

DOES IT CHANGE THE POLITICS OF THE RACE?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO SEE.

CERTAINLY BEFORE CONGRESSWOMAN WALORSKI DIED SHE WAS THE INCUMBENT AND INCUMBENTS HAVE A HUGE ADVANTAGE.

I ASSUME HE'S GOING TO ADOPT THE SAME REPUBLICAN MANTRA.

HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO SAY THE 10-YEAR-OLD SHOULD HAVE CARRIED THE CHILD TO TERM AND HE'S ALREADY SAYING SHRINK GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK HE WILL SURPRISE YOU.

>> HE'S NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF WHAT OBAMA DID IN 2009 BAILING OUT THE ELKHART INDUSTRY BASE UP THERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT HIS POSITIONS ARE, BUT IF HE IS THE TYPICAL REPUBLICAN, IT'S NOW TIME TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON THAT.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SECOND DISTRICT WHO SAYS THAT ANYBODY WHO SAYS A 10-YEAR-OLD SHOULD CARRY A RAPIST CHILD TO TERM IS NOT WHO SHOULD BE REPRESENTING US IN CONGRESS.

>> I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT RUDY YAKYM.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME TO LEARN ABOUT HIM.

BUT HE IS FAR FROM THE MOST CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE THIS CAUCUS COULD HAVE CHOSEN.

>> YEAH.

SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE MADE FORCING A 10-YEAR-OLD NOT TO GET AN ABORTION THE CENTER PIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

YOU START THINKING HOW THIS GOES.

IF YOU GO TO EISLEY OR THOSE TOP-TIER CANDIDATES WHO AREN'T RUDY.

GOOD FOR DEAN LOOKING AT THE FIELD AND SAYING NO, RUDY IS THE RIGHT GUY.

A BUSINESS GUY.

A FINANCE BACKGROUND.

THAT'S WHERE HIS FOCUS IS GOING TO BE.

THAT'S THE BEST THING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO POLITICKING A CAUCUS A WEEK AFTER YOUR WIFE DIED.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT TO HIS CREDIT HE GOT INVOLVED AND PICKED THE RIGHT GUY.

>> ONLY ONE OF THESE PANELISTS WAS AROUND THIS DESK LAST WEEK WHEN WE PREDICTED WHAT IT WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE PREDICTED RUDY YAKYM WAS GOING TO WIN.

>> IT'S A RARITY TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> I WASN'T SURPRISED THAT IT ONLY TOOK ONE BALLOT.

THERE'S THIS EMOTIONAL ASPECT WHEN YOU HAVE THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF JACKIE WALORSKI SAYING THIS IS WHAT I WANT.

THIS IS WHAT CONSTITUENTS DESERVE.

I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM RUDY YAKYM'S CREDENTIALS, BUT TO HAVE THAT BACKING.

>> HE'S A WELL CREDENTIALED CANDIDATE.

>> IN THAT SENSE OF CONTINUITY, I'M NOT SURPRISED FRANKLY.

>> WE DIDN'T GET MUCH INTO THIS LAST WEEK, WE'VE SEEN THINGS IN REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES GOING A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR A WHILE NOW.

ADMITTEDLY NOT ON THIS WIDE LEVEL AND NOT UNDER SUCH AWFUL CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT WE ROUND UP WITH JOHN JACOB DEFEATING SOMEONE IN A PRIMARY, WHICH WAS NOT EXPECTED.

WE SAW DIEGO MORALES LEAD AN INSURGENCY AT THE REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION.

THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING A DIFFERENT WAY IN THESE MORE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS.

ARE YOU SURPRISED HOW THIS ONE WENT?

>> I'M NOT.

THIS UNEXPECTED DEATH.

THIS WASN'T SOMEONE PICKING THEIR SUCCESSOR SO TO SPEAK, SOMEONE LEAVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR TERM.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER DEATH JUST COLORED THE WHOLE THING AND I DEFINITELY SEE THE CAUCUS MEMBERS WANTED A STABLE CANDIDATE TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT KIND OF CREATE WAVES.

>> WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ASSUMING RUDY YAKYM ALMOST CERTAINLY WINS THIS FALL?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> YEAH >> THE INDIANA 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM CAN HELP STUDENTS WITH FREE TUITION AT A PUBLIC COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL.

BUT WNIN'S TIM JAGIELO REPORTS MANY ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AREN'T TAKING ADVANTAGE.

>> IF A STUDENT QUALIFIES FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES AT SCHOOL THEY LIKELY QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM.

IT STARTS WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND HELPS THEM WITH ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS INCLUDING FREE TUITION TO GET THEM READY TO ATTEND AND FUND THEIR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

BUT ACCORDING TO CHRIS LOWERY OF THE INDIANA COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION ONLY HALF OF THE 40-PERCENT OVERALL WHO QUALIFY PURSUE THIS PROGRAM.

CHRIS LOWERY: MY VIEW, THEN, ABOUT HALF OF THE KIDS ARE GETTING LEFT BEHIND.

BECAUSE FOR VARIOUS REASONS THEY DON'T GET ENROLLED.

>> THESE CAN INCLUDE NOT BEING AWARE OF THE PROGRAM OR THAT HIGHER EDUCATION ISN'T A FAMILY PRIORITY BECAUSE OF OTHER STRESSORS.

CHRIS LOWERY: WE GOT TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB OF GIVING THE INFORMATION BUT ALSO KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON KEEPING COSTS LOW, HAVING QUALITY PROGRAMS, HAVING REASONS, YOU KNOW, THAT STUDENTS IN INDIANA SHOULD WANT TO GO TO OUR POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.

ASK YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OR GO TO LEARNMOREINDIANA.ORG TO LEARN MORE.

>> NIKI KELLY, WHAT CAN THE STATE DO TO MAKE BETTER USE OF THIS PROGRAM?

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IS THEY HAVE THIS MAGICAL THING THAT YOU HAVE TO ENROLL IN 7TH GRADE.

AND BEFORE LIKE, IT'S LIKE THE BEGINNING OF 7TH GRADE TO THE LIKE OCTOBER 30TH OF 8TH GRADE.

>> YOU WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE ALL THE WAY BACK IN 7TH GRADE.

>> I WAS, BUT I WASN'T NORMAL.

[LAUGHTER] I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T ENROLL IN 9TH GRADE OR 10TH GRADE.

WHAT IS SO MAGICAL ABOUT YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE PROGRAM AT 7TH GRADE.

THAT'S ONE THING TO EXPLORE.

>> BY THE TIME PEOPLE ACTUALLY START THINKING THIS IT'S ALREADY IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

>> THERE'S ALSO THE PLEDGE WHERE YOU HAVE TO PROMISE NOT TO DRINK AND DO DRUGS.

ONE THING I FOUND FASCINATING IN TERMS OF HELPING MORE KIDS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR THIS, FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, YOU CAN MAKE NO MORE THAN $51,000.

BY COMPARISON, INDIANA'S VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IS $154,000.

SO, IF WE WANT TO HELP MORE KIDS, MAYBE WE LOOK AT EXPANDING IT TO A FEW MORE PEOPLE JUST LIKE WE DO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

>> AT THE VERY LEAST WE'RE CLEARLY NOT USING ALL OF THE MONEY WE COULD BE RIGHT NOW, SO WHY NOT EXPAND IT A LITTLE BIT.

>> RIGHT!

>> THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT THE STATE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM OF MORE USE.

BUT IS SOME OF IT AT A LEVEL THE STATE CAN'T TOUCH THAT GOING TO COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL IS A GOOD DECISION?

>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

SIGN ME UP, I'LL JUMP ON THAT BAND WAGON IS SOMETHING THE STATE CAN DO MORE TANGIBLY.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DO MORE TO BEAT THE DRUM AND GET THE WORD OUT.

NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT ALREADY.

BUT SOME OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE SORT OF PARENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THESE KIDS IN MANY CASES ARE DEALING WITH.

THEY DON'T HAVE NUCLEAR FAMILIES.

IF THEY HAVE A SINGLE PARENT, THAT PERSON IS BUSY WITH UMPTEEN THINGS.

IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANYONE MAKING SURE THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS GET DONE AND THEY'RE GETTING NUTRITION AND SLEEPING BEFORE SCHOOL.

IT MAY BE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT A PARENT WHO IS STRETCHED SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE BILL COLLECTORS ARE PAID.

THE VERY PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS THE MOST ARE PROBABLY THE ONES FOR WHOM IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT SORT OF TRANSITION FROM SOMEBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO IT TO SOMEBODY WHO IS ACTUALLY SIGNED UP.

VERSUS YOU GOT SOMEBODY WHO HAS PROBABLY BEEN STRAIGHT A'S FOREVER, THE PARENTS ARE THERE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A CALENDAR IN PRESCHOOL AND PROBABLY SAID WE GOT TO REMEMBER IN 7TH GRADE.

>> IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS WE'RE ASKING SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO DO THIS.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS VERY MUCH WITHIN THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, BUT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ON THE SHOW BEFORE.

SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE DOING ABOUT 40 MILLION THINGS THAT SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

>> I THINK THE IDEA THE FLOOR OR THE CEILING WAS THERE WHEN IT WAS INAUGURATED THE PROGRAM AND HASN'T BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEN.

THAT WAS BACK IN EARLY 1990S.

THE OTHER THING THEY CAN DO IS OPT OUT, NOT OPT IN.

EVERY STUDENT OPTS IN.

THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE IN 9TH GRADE OR 10TH GRADE OR 11TH GRADE AND THEN THEY CAN OPT OUT.- >> BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO DISPENSE WITH THE PLEDGE NOT TO USE DRUGS.

>> THEY CAN COME BACK AND SAY I HAVEN'T USED DRUGS.

YOU COULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO PEOPLE.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE RED TAPE.

>> AND IF THEIR GRADES DROP, THEN YOU GET KICKED OUT.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CIRCLES AT THE STATEHOUSE TO MAKE THINGS OPT IN VERSUS OPT OUT.

>> FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE DONE IT, IT HAS REALLY BEEN LIFE CHANGING.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT NIKI AND ANN JUST TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE STATE CAN BE DOING.

IS THERE MUCH APPETITE IN THE STATEHOUSE OR GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR SOME OF THESE SORTS OF CHANGES?

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGES WITH THIS PROGRAM AND GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO IT, THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PROGRAM ALIGN VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE BROADER WORKFORCE EFFORT.

SO, THE WORKFORCE CABINET, EVERYTHING THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, FILL A PIPELINE FULL OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO THEN MARRY WITH A TRAINING PROGRAM OR SOME KIND OF CERTIFICATION, FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT THROUGH INVEST ED OR ONE OF THE OTHER STATE PROGRAMS.

IT'S THE SAME THING, SAME PROBLEM.

YOU'RE JUST THINKING ABOUT 7TH GRADERS INSTEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATED ADULTS.

PUT IT ALL IN THE SAME PART OF YOUR BRAIN AND TRY TO TURN SOME OF THESE DIALS TO IMPROVE ENROLLMENT AND ELIGIBILITY.

>> YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET 100%.

YOU ESSENTIALLY -— CERTAINLY COULD GET IT UP 10-20%, WHICH WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION.

>> WHEN YOU'RE POOR EVERYTHING IS HARD.

I'M FOOD INSECURE AND HOUSING INSECURE AND I MAKE $30,000 A YEAR AND I WANT MY KID TO DO BETTER AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT SOME HOOSIER FAMILIES CAN RECEIVE UP TO 1-THOUSAND DOLLARS THROUGH A PILOT STATEWIDE TUTORING PROGRAM.

FROM WFYI'S EDUCATION DESK, ELIZABETH GABRIEL REPORTS THE STATE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO SERVE A PORTION OF STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR THESE FUNDS.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR LAWMAKERS APPROVED LEGISLATION TO CREATE A NEW STATEWIDE TUTORING PROGRAM.

ROUGHLY 57,000 FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS ARE BELOW MATH AND READING PROFICIENCY, AND ARE ELIGIBLE.

BUT THE STATE ONLY HAS ENOUGH FUNDING TO SERVE 15 TO 24 THOUSAND STUDENTS.

KATIE JENNER IS INDIANA'S SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

SHE SAYS THE STATE WILL TRY TO FIND MORE FUNDS TO SERVE AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE.

KATIE JENNER: WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR TEACHERS, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR PARENTS WHO ARE SO KEY TO THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILD.

>> STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM MUST BE ENROLLED AT A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC, CHARTER OR ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOL AND QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.

>> JON SCHWANTES, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT NEEDING TO INVEST MORE - IN TARGETED WAYS - WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING LOSS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

DOES -— NORMALLY A PILOT PROGRAM GOES OUT AND WE SEE HOW IT'S DOING AND TWEAK IT AND EXPAND IT.

DO WE NEED TO PUT MORE INTO THIS BUDGET SESSION BASED ON THE NEED THAT IS OUT THERE?

>> BASED ON STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES WHICH HAVE GIVEN US SOME SENSE THAT WE SHOULD BRACE OURSELVES BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC TOOK A TO ON -— TOLL ON LEARNING IN OUR STATE.

IT'S A GLOBAL PROBLEM.

THE ONES WHO NEED THE HELP ARE PROBABLY THE LEAST EQUIPPED TO KNOW WHICH HOOPS TO JUMP THERE.

IT'S A COMPLICATED PROGRAM.

TO QUALIFY, AS A STUDENT, AS A LEARNER, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS.

BUT AS A TUTOR, YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY IN THIS WAY, THIS WAY, THIS WAY.

I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS THERE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH ILL INTENTIONS WHO COULD MAKE A BUNDLE HERE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THE GUIDELINES ARE THERE.

BUT IT DOES ADD A LAYER OF COMPLEXITY AND BUREAUCRACY AND THAT IS DAUNTING TO SOME PEOPLE AND THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WOULD PROBABLY BENEFIT FROM THIS.

>> THIS IS NOT THE ONLY THING THE STATE IS PURSUING.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT ONE LAST WEEK, THIS LITERACY INITIATIVE THAT IS BEING DONE IN PART THROUGH NON-PROFIT MONEY.

BY THE WAY, I SAID THAT ELI LILLY IS PUTTING THAT UP.

IT'S THE LILY FOUNDATION.

THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I MADE THAT MISTAKE.

>> THERE IS THE LILY FAN DANE AND -— FOUNDATION AND LILLY ENDOWMENT.

JUST TO CONFUSE THINGS MORE.

>> IS THIS PROGRAM GOING TO DO WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO DO.

>> A PROBLEM HERE IS IT RAN OUT OF MONEY.

PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT.

THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO DO IT.

>> THAT'S THE POINT.

A LOT OF THE TAIL OF THE TAPE ON SO MANY THINGS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET SESSION.

IS THIS A LITTLE BIT OF LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET SESSION?

>> THERE NO QUESTION THAT THEY NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT IF WE'RE GOING TO CATCH THE KIDS UP.

BUT THIS WHOLE NONSENSE OF THE GRANTS AND THE APPLICATIONS AND THE PARENTS IS RIDICULOUS.

THEY KNOW WHERE THE KIDS ARE WHO ARE FAILING AND WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE WHERE THE KIDS ARE FAILING.

THEY COULD PUT THE MONEY IN THAT AND EXPAND THE SCHOOL DAY HOURS INSTEAD OF ASKING PARENTS TO SET THEM UP FOR THESE COUNSELING SESSIONS THAT CONTRADICT THEIR SCHOOLING.

THEY COULD EXPAND THE HOURS, DO SATURDAY AT THE SCHOOL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE AT ON OCCUPANT -— OPT OUT.

THAT'S INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR PANEL IS DEMOCRAT ANN DELANEY, REPUBLICAN MIKE O'BRIEN, JON SCHWANTES OF INDIANA LAWMAKERS AND NIKI KELLY OF THE INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE IF YOU'D LIKE A PODCAST OF THIS PROGRAM YOU CAN FIND IT AT WFYI.ORG/IWIR OR STARTING MONDAY YOU CAN STREAM IT OR GET IT ON DEMAND FROM XFINITY AND ON THE WFYI APP.

I'M BRANDON SMITH OF INDIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

JOIN US NEXT TIME BECAUSE A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN AN INDIANA WEEK.

♪ >> THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE PANELISTS.

INDIANA WEEK IN REVIEW IS A WFYI PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIANA'S PUBLIC BROADCASTIN