Alliance members weigh in on who should govern IPS, charter schools
The 4 governance options unveiled at the group’s recent meeting range from a fully elected IPS school board to a fully appointed one.
Amelia Pak-Harvey, Chalkbeat Indiana
Articles
Indianapolis Local Education Alliance presents proposals on school transportation, building, and governance
The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance has presented a slew of potential solutions for how to share school transportation and buildings. But a larger question looms: Who should govern charter and district schools?
IPS board members float reducing district’s boundaries, but getting buy-in could be tricky
If done today, reducing the boundaries of Indianapolis Public Schools to only include Center Township would remove 47 district and charter schools from IPS borders.
Proposed IPS teachers contract would provide smaller raises amid shaky financial outlook
The raises come at an increasingly precarious time for IPS, which faces a funding cliff. The district is projected to end 2026 with an estimated $44 million deficit, according to cash flow projections from September.
A new rating system could help decide which schools close or expand. Will Indianapolis education officials create one?
As the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance considers changes to the city’s education landscape, supporters of charters and traditional public schools have indicated support for a universal school-rating system.
IPS school board approves sale of John Marshall building for $350,000
The sale of a 16-acre portion of the 40-acre John Marshall campus at 10101 E. 38th St. marks the end of the district’s history with the school, which first opened in 1967.
IPS changes Office of Racial Equity amid national backlash to DEI
The transition was meant to ensure “that every student has what they need to be successful, regardless of their identity,” the district said in a statement Wednesday.
IPS considers selling John Marshall school building for $350,000
The deal is contingent on whether the district can successfully petition the city to rezone the property for special commercial use.
IPS plans to use $1.2M from sale of paintings on arts education
Many of the pieces of art, which date from the 1890s through the 1970s, once hung in IPS schools that are now closed, according to the district.
Indianapolis charter, private schools approved for 3-year state facilities, transportation pilot
Transportation and facilities are two of the most challenging topics for charter schools, which have historically not received property tax funding.
IPS school board opposes any plan for future all-charter system
In a letter of requests to the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, the IPS board reiterated previous calls to keep the school board democratically elected.
City to pay consultant $40K per month for Indianapolis Local Education Alliance work
Michael O’Connor, a principal of the Bose Public Affairs Group and a former chair of the Indianapolis Public Schools board, will lead the consulting work as part of the city’s contract with Bose.
Legal Prep charter school secures downtown location
The school’s downtown location on South Meridian Street is central to Legal Prep’s desire to be close to the city’s legal and business community.
IPS makes former School 68 building available for $1
A 2020 building study commissioned by the district concluded that the brick building—built in 1938—had the lowest overall facility quality in the district.
More than 50 Indianapolis schools apply to collaborate on transportation, facilities
Indiana lawmakers created the pilot program earlier this year after a confrontational legislative session in which Republican legislators called for more efficiency in the Indianapolis school environment.
IPS taps company to run standalone special education program, starting year fully staffed
The program has behavior specialists assigned to each classroom, as well as two social workers and a psychiatrist to provide oversight for students with medication.
Andrew J. Brown Academy charter school finds new life in old IPS school after $10M investment
Renovations to the former Forest Manor Middle School building are part of a new beginning for Andrew J. Brown Academy, which broke ties with a for-profit charter operator last year.
Irvington Community Schools board chair resigns, another board member removed
The resignation and the removal follows heightened criticism from students, parents, and staff over conflicts of interest in the charter network’s search for a new CEO.
Money, power, enrollment trends favor charter schools over IPS as district’s future wavers
Charter schools have grown in student enrollment and political clout since coming to Indiana in 2001. Will recent changes finally push IPS into becoming an all-charter system?
IPS to sell a building, put another up for sale or lease to end legal battle
The announcement ends the legal battle over a state law that requires districts to give unused school buildings to interested charter schools for the sale or lease price of $1.