Federal funding could help Indiana schools avoid more teacher cuts

Federal money targeted to save teaching jobs won’t arrive in time to get teachers laid off last spring back into the classroom, but could keep colleagues from getting laid off down the road.

The U.S. Senate overcame a Republican-led filibuster last week to pass a $26.1 billion state aid and jobs bill — partly paid for by ending, in 2014, a stimulus-funded increase in food stamp spending. About $10 billion of the bill is earmarked for education, money the American Association of School Administrators estimates would save 140,000 teaching jobs nationwide for a year.

The bill’s $16.1 billion balance is meant to help states deal with pending Medicaid obligations.

John Ellis, executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, said Monday that Indiana’s share of the bill’s education dollars projects to be $207 million.