My understanding is that everyone pays for school via taxes. The tax system covers the longterm committment to education and that is paid for by everyone in the state. So the tax covers more of the longterm items such as maintenance of the buildings and buses, but it also covers the teacher's salaries and yearly operating expenses for the schools. In Indiana, the property tax is the method of payment for education which is made by everyone in the state. However, I believe because there was some concern that those that don't currently have kids in the school system should not be paying for the current school year supplies such as books, that is why Indiana has always carved that out and instead of including that amount in everyone's taxes, puts that obligation on the parents with kids in the school currently. I'm sure those of us with several kids in the school system currently will really appreciate not having to pay that once our kids are no longer in school.
But, bottom line, there is no "free" education since all of us must pay for that service / benefit. The states that do not charge a book rental and then are stopped from getting new books because the tax payers refuse to increase referendums for education are the States that I feel bad for. I think Indiana has done a pretty good job of balancing the obligaiton between those with kids currently in the system and those wihtout. Also, I think all schools provide financial assistance for those that are truly struggling to pay the book rental fee. I think you just need to request a form to fill out and meet the criteria for assistance. Good luck! Mom w/4 in the schools currently.