Several prominent organizations representing Indy’s Black residents are calling for more transparency about legislation that would direct millions of dollars away from Indianapolis Public Schools.
And some are specifically naming The Mind Trust, an education nonprofit that supports charter schools — saying the group needs to be more forthcoming about discussions happening behind closed doors with IPS about three bills filed this legislative session.
The issue is simple: The Mind Trust believes charter schools should have access to more property taxes, which would help pay for transportation and other operational costs. The group confirmed to Mirror Indy that it’s been meeting with IPS to discuss legislation.
IPS confirmed those discussions, too, but said the district had hoped to see an increase in funding for all school types, rather than what’s happening at the Statehouse: a bill that would redirect funding away from IPS.
“IPS is proud of the collaborative partnerships that we’ve built with charter schools and believes that all students should have the funding they need to be successful,” IPS said in a statement to Mirror Indy, in part. “We believe that goal can be accomplished through expanding access to resources, not splintering existing resources even further.”
Proposals to direct funding away from IPS concerned Indianapolis Urban League President and CEO Tony Mason.
“There are not enough resources,” Mason said during a press conference Feb. 18. “It would seem fiscally irresponsible to continue to take the limited resources in the Indianapolis Public School district and to smear them and share them across separate charter school systems within one district.”
Mason was joined by leaders from the Black Church Coalition, the Children’s Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana and the African American Coalition of Indianapolis, which represents a collective of more than 20 organizations supporting Black residents.
The press conference comes as tension builds over the future of public education in Indianapolis. IPS had issued warnings that three bills could devastate the district’s funding. One bill passed out of committee last week. It seeks to redirect some property tax revenue away from traditional public schools like IPS and into charter schools.
The other two bills are dead for lack of a hearing. They would have removed IPS’ local authority and turned the district’s schools into charter schools.
The Mind Trust — which emphasizes that charter schools are also public schools — says the property tax proposal is in the interest of Indianapolis students and families.
“It will ensure that all public school children will benefit from local tax funding no matter which type of school a family chooses,” The Mind Trust said in a statement to Mirror Indy, in part. “This is especially important now that 61% of public school students within and near IPS boundaries attend a charter or innovation network school.”
IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson, meanwhile, testified last week that such a shift in funding could lead to the loss of hundreds of district jobs and the closure of 20 IPS schools.
Coalition questions charter influence
Many of the groups sharing statements this week are referencing conversations happening behind the scenes as legislation moves through the Statehouse on a public stage.
AACI President Willis Bright expressed frustration with the situation, calling on lawmakers to answer for an environment that’s pitted Black residents — including traditional public education advocates and charter school supporters — against one another.
“Are the changes being proposed providing a solution?” Bright asked. “Or are they disrupting an already fragile ecosystem that needs more support and collaboration than ever before?”
“It would seem fiscally irresponsible to continue to take the limited resources in the Indianapolis Public School district and to smear them and share them across separate charter school systems within one district.”
— Tony Mason, president and CEO of Indianapolis Urban League
After the press conference, AACI issued a news release that raised other concerns about The Mind Trust and other education nonprofits that support charter schools. They called attention to contributions made by charter friendly organizations, including RISE INDY and Stand for Children, to the campaigns of IPS school board candidates.
The coalition also questioned how the potential loss of resources within IPS would help students in charter schools — including at Innovation Network schools, which are partners of the district.
“IPS has a long history of collaborating with education reform initiatives,” the release reads.
Stand for Children, in a statement to Mirror Indy, offered to connect the AACI with parents to learn more about the group’s endorsement practices.
RISE INDY, which is an AACI member, said its leaders received a membership email before the group’s press conference, but were not told RISE INDY would be included in the news release that followed. Though it doesn’t support the dissolution of IPS, a RISE INDY spokesperson addressed the group’s endorsement of school board candidates in a provided statement.
“Our focus has been on ensuring that all students — whether in district or public charter schools — have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive,” the statement reads, in part. “We support leaders that reflect our community, and we are proud to have supported the majority of the Black women who now sit on the IPS school board.”
Charter advocates support shared funds
The Mind Trust, in its statement to Mirror Indy, said IPS has requested the nonprofit’s presence in meetings about potential legislation over the last 18 months.
“IPS’ recent public statements are inconsistent with the private conversations the district has had with The Mind Trust,” the statement read.
It’s unclear what specifically The Mind Trust is referring to. At its January school board meeting, the board members provided a lengthy statement after a press conference held earlier that month by the Indianapolis Urban League and AACI.
In its statement issued to Mirror Indy, IPS leaders confirmed they had been meeting with The Mind Trust and that the nonprofit asked the district to support property tax sharing — something IPS leadership believes would cause substantial disruption to the district.
“The IPS leadership team has repeatedly expressed concern and misalignment with this approach,” the district’s statement reads, in part. “This is why IPS has actively engaged our community to build awareness and solicit feedback regarding bills that would significantly impact our district.”
Mason and others are also questioning why charter school advocates and state lawmakers aren’t giving IPS time to work through its Rebuilding Stronger initiative.
The plan is a districtwide effort years in the making to consolidate schools and increase access to programs like music and foreign language. Mason pointed to the community’s support of Rebuilding Stronger, indicated by the passage of a tax increase in 2023 to raise money for the plan.
“While we know our public school system needs work to fully meet the needs of our community, they are on a path to improvement,” Mason said. “Why are they not being allowed to work the plan? Why are they not being supported as a (school) board — and shall I say this — a board of all Black women?”
The property tax sharing bill is under consideration in the Indiana Senate and faces a Feb. 20 deadline to move forward.
Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
