Local charter operator bidding to manage all elementary schools in Gary
Phalen Leadership Academies is part of a team bidding to be the state’s manager for the takeover of Gary schools.
Charter Schools
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Lawsuit targets charters approved by private, religious schools
An education advocacy group has sued the state and a controversial charter school, seeking to block funding because the group argues that it is unconstitutional for private religious institutions to approve charter schools, which are funded by tax dollars.
Mind Trust drawing big dollars from national donors
The reputation the education reform group has engendered with its work in the city has spread—and therefore so has its donor base.
DeHaan, 74, still pumping massive cash, countless hours into charity
Indianapolis businesswoman and philanthropist Christel DeHaan is nearly 75 years old and she knows that someday she’ll have to slow down. Someday. Not now.
Well-regarded Herron High School seeks to strengthen ties with IPS
Joining the IPS innovation network would give Herron access to additional funding, but it would retain most of its independence. Herron’s head of school said the move "will not impact students in any way."
Purdue Polytechnic project hits snag on city’s east side
The planned high school for STEM studies announced with fanfare last year that it would move into the P.R. Mallory factory site, but leaders encountered a financial hurdle and now are keeping their options open.
Tindley Schools network taps former principal for CEO job
Kelli Marshall will permanently replace Marcus Robinson, who resigned earlier this year after questions about the financial state of the network and his lavish spending as CEO.
Indiana’s online schools fall short but are allowed to carry on
Since their start in 2009, Indiana’s online schools have grown tremendously, and enrollment now tops 11,000. But every online school in the state that tested students in 2016—including four charter schools—received an F grade.
Mind Trust has big plans for Indianapolis schools—and now it needs big money
The group is seeking to raise $32 million to fund the first half of its plan, which aims to double the number of students within Indianapolis Public Schools boundaries who attend highly rated schools.
Indy charter school struggling with unexpectedly low enrollment
Ace Preparatory Academy, started by an aide to former Indiana schools superintendent Tony Bennett, is at about 22 percent of its initial expected enrollment, with just 33 students as of Oct. 19.
Feds, ‘encouraged’ by Tindley’s financial efforts, award network $1.9M grant
The Indianapolis charter network was the only Indiana charter network to win one of the grants.
Abandoned P.R. Mallory factory to get new life as Purdue high school
The east-side factory used to employ 1,500 dry-cell battery makers, but has been abandoned for decades.
Holcomb’s education plan touts school choice, measured preschool expansion
In dueling speeches to education groups, gubernatorial candidates Eric Holcomb and John Gregg laid out their plans to improve state schools.
Competition for school kids heats up across Indy
Public schools—including traditional, district-run schools and charters—are employing ever-more sophisticated advertising and marketing campaigns in an effort to meet enrollment targets by the time the official state count day rolls around.
In danger of closure, charter school transfers students to sister school
Indiana State Board of Education members were stunned to learn Wednesday that a failing charter school transferred some of its neediest students to a newly created sister school just before the board was expected to decide its fate.
Failing online charter school’s fate on the line
The Indiana State Board of Education on Wednesday must once again decide what to do about one of the state’s lowest-scoring online charter schools.
Two new charter high schools get a boost from Mind Trust
Indianapolis Public Schools might be losing a few high schools in the coming years, but with The Mind Trust’s support, two charter high schools could open as soon as next fall.
Board yanks charter for ITT-sponsored school
The Early Career Academy was designed so that students also could earn associate degrees from ITT Tech at no cost, but the college has faced scrutiny for providing credits that are not accepted by major universities in the state.
Mind Trust gives Tindley network consulting, recruitment help
Indianapolis’ cash-strapped homegrown charter school network Tindley Accelerated Schools is getting a boost from one of the city’s most ardent school choice supporters.
Explosive growth in Indiana charter schools begins to cool
An unprecedented expansion of charter schools over the past five years—centered heavily in Indianapolis—is expected to push the number of privately managed public schools in Indiana to 100 this fall for the first time.