IPS could share $5M in referendum funds with innovation schools
Responding to urging from families and other advocates, Indianapolis Public Schools is proposing to share $5 million per year from a recent tax measure with its charter school partners.
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Lawsuit seeks $150M from Indiana online schools fraud claims
The lawsuit announced Monday by the Indiana attorney general’s office comes nearly two years after Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy shut down amid a state investigation.
Mind Trust fellows plan two new Indianapolis charter schools
An academy infused with Latino culture and a school focused on closing learning gaps plan to open in Indianapolis in 2022, joining the city’s expansive roster of charter schools.
For first time, private virtual schools seek to accept vouchers in Indiana
The Indiana State Board of Education will consider Wednesday whether to accredit the schools, which would pave the way for them to participate in the state’s expanding voucher program.
‘Deceived’: Indianapolis charter school pitch left out lawsuits, touted questionable college degrees
A Chalkbeat investigation found that the rosy charter pitch for Stemnasium Science Math Engineering Middle School painted over troubling details—lawsuits, financial troubles, questionable academic credentials—that escaped notice by city charter officials and The Mind Trust.
Charter school buys former Tindley buildings on east side for $5M
The Indianapolis-based GEO Foundation will make one building the new home of its Next Generation High School and lease the other to elementary charter school Indy STEAM.
Left out of referendums, Indiana charter schools push for more funding
Charter schools miss out on about $3,300 per student in local funding because they don’t get the property tax money that traditional districts use to pay for buildings, transportation, and technology.
IPS seats two new board members, strengthening charter support
Indianapolis Public Schools swore in two new board members and two incumbents Monday night. All four have the backing of pro-school choice political action committees.
Report calls for Indiana school funding changes to close equity gaps
The gap is driven by charter schools, according to the report, since they serve a greater percentage of students of color than does the average Indiana district and do not receive local property tax revenues.
Indianapolis charter network planning virtual school for next year
School leaders say the plan responds to demand fueled by the pandemic for virtual schooling that they anticipate could continue even if the health crisis recedes or a vaccine proves effective.
Former Mayor Bart Peterson resigns as CEO of Christel House International
Christel House, which operates K-12 charter schools in high-poverty areas, did not provide a reason for Peterson’s departure. He took the job in October 2018, succeeding founder Christel DeHaan.
State charter board to require Indianapolis schools to use Enroll Indy
Indiana Charter School Board Executive Director James Betley said Enroll Indy gives the city’s most disadvantaged families access to school choices through a transparent lottery system.
Senate Democrats pushing for more oversight for virtual schools
State lawmakers say it’s not too late to enact legislative “guardrails” that could help prevent virtual schools from spending tax dollars in the future without accountability.
Charter operator spending $10M to relocate elementary school to former warehouse
Paramount Schools of Excellence bought the 55,000-square-foot building in the Cottage Home neighborhood for about $3.2 million.
Indiana ends takeover, returning 3 schools to IPS
Nearly eight years after Indiana seized three struggling campuses from Indianapolis Public Schools, the State Board of Education voted Wednesday to hand the schools back, bringing to a close a turnaround experiment that sparked enduring change in the state’s largest district.
After rejection, Charter Schools USA could shop for charters for local turnaround schools
A month after its bid for charters was rejected by a state authorizer, a not-for-profit with ties to Charter Schools USA appears to be looking for another backer—raising concerns that Indiana law makes it too easy to shop around for a friendly overseer.
Town saw promise in virtual charter schools, but then things unraveled
The downfall of Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy placed Daleville Community Schools under a microscope.
Indianapolis Public Schools poised to renew two innovation school agreements
Five years into Indianapolis Public Schools’ unconventional partnerships with charter operators, the district appears likely to renew its first contracts amid some positive initial results.
Charter Schools USA loses charter bid, giving IPS a shot at reclaiming takeover schools
The Indiana Charter School Board denied charters Friday for three Indianapolis turnaround schools—a stunning move that could spell the end to the Florida-based Charter Schools USA’s operations in Indianapolis.
IPS finds a powerful charter ally in its 11th hour bid to win back takeover schools
Christel House Academy, a politically influential charter network, wants to relocate its south-side school to Manual High School if oversight of that campus is returned to Indianapolis Public Schools.