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As I reflect on the current state of education in our city and state, I find myself increasingly concerned with the growing polarization that is dominating the conversation. We’re witnessing debates that pit “charter vs. traditional,” “us vs. them,” “right vs. wrong.” But in all this fighting, something critical is being overlooked: the very students we are meant to serve. The majority of these students are Black, brown and low-income kids. As an education advocacy organization, we can’t afford to let them be forgotten.
At Rise Indy, our work has always been about lifting the voices of those who most often are overlooked—the kids at the margins. The ones who don’t always have access to the same opportunities and resources, the ones who still have unmet needs in every corner of this city. While lawmakers, educators and advocates get wrapped up in political power struggles, the children we serve continue to fall through the cracks.
It’s a shame that we are debating whether all public school students should receive equitable funding, accessible transportation and access to underutilized facilities. These debates have shifted the focus away from what really matters—student success. The data is clear: Kids aren’t thriving across the board. We are seeing some positive trends in public charter schools—more days of learning, faster growth rates for some students and increased demand from Black families. In direct-run district schools, we see increased high school graduation rates, accessible programs and experiences, and high teacher retention. We also know that some public charter schools have underperformed expectations or have closed due to financial instability and that some district schools are under-resourced. Unfortunately, there are still kids falling through the cracks in both charter and district schools.
What we’re really talking about is a system that needs to work for all kids—no matter their background, their neighborhood or their school type. And right now, that’s not happening.
As this legislative session moves forward, we’ll continue to see our community, city and leaders get pulled into more polarized debates about “right” and “wrong,” “charter” and “district.” But here’s the reality: Parents and teachers aren’t caught up in the political debates about governance models—they just want to ensure kids receive a quality education. According to an NCES study, 69% of parents value school safety in any school type. And our recent teacher survey found that 20% didn’t know whether their school was a public charter school or a traditional district school. They’re focused on what works for their kids, not which label is attached to the school. Parents and educators want our children to graduate, have a chance to go to college and have a better life.
At Rise, we get to focus on what really matters: the kids. We’re here to make sure that the bills we support are amended to protect and uplift those most in need. We’re here to elevate the voices of community members who aren’t concerned with political wrangling but are focused on giving their kids a future filled with opportunity. We believe in student-centered conversations—ones that focus on what’s best for kids, not what’s easiest for adults.
We will continue to work with Indianapolis Public Schools commissioners and IPS staff to keep the focus on students, and our goal is clear: We want to ensure that all public-school students—regardless of whether they attend a public charter school or a district school—are given the resources, the opportunities and the support they need to succeed.
The real conversation should center on one thing: how we, as a community, are going to ensure that every student in Indianapolis—especially those at the margins—get what they need to thrive. The stakes are too high for us to let political divides continue to define the future of our city’s public education system and our kids.
Let’s shift the conversation. Let’s come together and make sure the needs of our children are at the heart of every discussion. When we do that, we all rise.•
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Shaheed-Young is founder and CEO of Rise Indy.
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