IPS school board says it wants to be charter authorizer
The proposed step came on the eve of of a scheduled Wednesday vote by the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance that could result in major changes to IPS and charter schools.
Charter Schools
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Indianapolis Public Schools considers renewal of six Innovation Network schools
The schools up for renewal this week served a total of roughly 3,900 students last year and show varying levels of increased, decreased, or stagnant test results in the years immediately preceding and following the pandemic.
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Thrival Indy Academy Innovation school to close amid low enrollment
Thrival began as a one-year program within Indianapolis Public Schools in 2017, but expanded to a four-year high school in 2020.
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IPS seeks relief from law requiring $1 building sales to charter schools
The court filing by IPS is the latest move in a long-running dispute between the district and the charter sector over facilities and resources, as charter enrollment grows and IPS enacts academic and other changes to attract students.
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Senate unveils budget with no expansion for school voucher program
The most glaring contrast between the Senate and House proposals is the way in which they intend to expand funding to charter schools.
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Articles
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.
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.
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.
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.
Irvington Community Schools charter network restarts CEO search after staff absences, public protest
Dozens of students, staff, and parents gathered outside Irvington Preparatory Academy on Tuesday to demand a different CEO. Former CEO Häns Lassiter resigned in February with no public explanation.
Federal funds for low-performing schools would be redirected under Indiana flexibility request
Among the changes would be a significant shift in School Improvement Grants, competitive grants that currently fund improvement plans at district and charter schools identified as low performing under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Charter leaders want IPS to transfer building ownership to their schools
While charter leaders have requested ownership of IPS buildings, supporters of traditional public schools have called for the district to charge for all services it provides to its charter partners.
IPS denies Cold Spring’s bid to become charter school, cites ‘guiding principles’
The K-8 Cold Spring School, which is known for its competitive robotics team and STEM programs, had sought to amend its Innovation Network agreement with Indianapolis Public Schools.
Indianapolis charter board approves new Legal Prep school
The charter school plans to grow enrollment to 825 students in grades 6-12 by 2029-30.
Matchbook Learning leader terminated after alcohol, airfare charged to school card
A credit card assigned to the former charter school official accrued tens of thousands of dollars in travel, high-end dining and alcohol purchases.
Supreme Court tie vote dooms taxpayer-funded Catholic charter school
The outcome keeps in place a court decision that invalidated a vote by a state charter school board to approve the nation’s first religious charter school. But it leaves the issue unresolved nationally.
State charter board OKs merger of 2 Indianapolis schools, backs new microschool network
Leaders hope the merger of Ace Prep and Circle City Prep will bring financial stability to a small school with a strong academic track record.
Supreme Court seems open to allowing religious public schools
Supporters say denying full public funding to religious public charter schools amounts to anti-religious discrimination since states allow full taxpayer funding to other types of charter schools.
Charter schools score big funding wins, including new property tax sharing law
Most funding increases for Indiana charter schools won’t take place until 2028, when state law mandates that districts must begin sharing property taxes used for operating expenses.
Do charter schools perform better than IPS schools? Here’s what studies, test results show.
The question of whether charter schools perform better academically than traditional IPS schools is a key focus of debates about funding and educational success.