Parents and other advocates of IPS shouted over members of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance as the group narrowed down ideas for how to make major changes to Indianapolis’ public schools.
The group met on Wednesday, Dec. 3, ahead of a fast-approaching end-of-year deadline to deliver recommendations to state and local policymakers. Their ideas focus on ways to get IPS and charter schools to collaborate more closely, but some parents disagree with the way alliance members are going about their work.
“We are asking this body to pause, keep all options open and continue listening before advancing recommendations that could lead to devastating and permanent consequences for our district,” IPS parent Megan Hise said during her public comments. “Families deserve decisions made with us, not around us.”
Several parents and advocates took issue with the meeting itself, held at 4 p.m. during school pickup time. Others say the ideas the alliance is considering further erode their trust by seeking to take power away from IPS’ elected school board. In fact, several advocacy groups are now endorsing an alternative plan they say preserves community voice.
Upcoming meetings
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🗓️ 6-8 p.m. Dec. 10
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🗓️ Noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 15
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Public meeting
🗓️ 6 p.m. Dec. 17
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What to know about the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance
- Indy is home to dozens of traditional public and charter schools. Some have advocated for years for a simplified system.
- State lawmakers threatened to step in this year. One wanted to dissolve IPS and convert the district into charter schools.
- IPS advocates pushed back and compromised with the creation of the new group. It will study facilities, transportation and finance. Recommendations are expected by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, some charter school advocates are happy with the alliance’s new direction. They say some of its ideas, such as creating an independent group to oversee transportation for both IPS and charter schools, will support families of all school types.
“It keeps pace with how families choose schools,” Sashah Fletcher, a parent and advocate with the charter-friendly group EmpowerED Families, said during the meeting. “Today, Indianapolis families choose across district lines. A modern, unified transportation system should reflect the reality of how students move through our city.”
Officials with the alliance say the ideas discussed in early December are just a starting point. The group has two public listening sessions where feedback could be used to change what’s already been put forward.
IPS, charter advocates agree on this
Advocates on both sides say they have concerns about the alliance’s plans for who ultimately controls public schools.
The alliance moved forward two ideas Dec. 3 that would keep IPS’ school board, but take away its control of tax dollars. Swept up in these ideas is also whether or not charter schools can individually receive tax dollars. That’s something they’ve only recently been able to do.
In one proposed model, a new advisory board with appointees from IPS, charter schools and the mayor would collect property tax dollars. In the other model, an “education authority” appointed mostly by the mayor would control those dollars.
Shifting tax dollars away from individual schools has left some charter advocates uneasy. They say local control of tax dollars allows school leaders to make easy decisions about things tied to transportation — things like setting school start and end times and planning for field trips.
The Mind Trust, a nonprofit that supports the growth of charter schools, released a statement after the Dec. 3 meeting generally supporting the alliance’s steps forward. But the charter incubator urged caution when considering who should receive tax dollars.
“As the (alliance) continues its deliberations,” the statement said, in part, “we encourage members to guard against creating a new overarching governance structure that could unintentionally infringe upon school autonomy.”
IPS advocates have similarly raised concerns that these ideas would just create another layer of bureaucracy and further confuse parents about where to go for help resolving questions within their child’s school. Unlike the charter sector, however, diluting the power of IPS’ school board is a particular sticking point for these advocates.
After hearing the alliance’s ideas, IPS Commissioner Gayle Cosby shared her fear that ceding any of IPS’ control could lead to even greater consequences in the future.
“The prediction is simple and terrifying: Once the operational power is stripped, the elected board is just a short legislative vote away from being dissolved entirely,” Cosby said during a Thursday, Dec. 4, press conference.
An alternative proposal
She and others with the Central Indiana Democratic Socialists of America organized the press conference to propose an alternative plan.
They say the alliance should support IPS’ elected school board. They want to see charter schools brought under the authority of the IPS board. They also believe the IPS board should take control of bus and facility services for all public schools.
IPS already offers transportation to more than 70% of Indianapolis’ public school students, the advocates say, and has the experience to serve even more students well.
Their proposal would allow all families — charter schools included — to have a voice because all schools would fall under an elected board. Right now, independent charter schools are overseen mostly by appointees.
“Under this plan, charter students and parents will finally have an accountable board that represents them democratically without sacrificing their school choice,” Adrea McCloud, an IPS parent, teacher and advocate with Central Indiana DSA, said during the press conference.
The proposal is backed by advocates with the IPS Parent Council, the Indianapolis Education Association teachers’ union and the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis.
More than 1,000 IPS parents and caregivers have signed an IPS Parent Council letter calling for IPS to maintain its elected school board. Kristen Phair, who sits on the IPS Parent Council board, said she’s hopeful the alliance will slow down and reconsider its positions.
“Engage families where we are, including in our schools, with true dialogue,” Phair said, addressing alliance members directly during the press conference. “Please protect Democratic governance and prioritize student stability over structural experimentation.”
After two upcoming public listening sessions, the alliance is expected to meet again on Dec. 17. Details for this meeting are expected to be shared on the alliance’s website closer to the meeting date. The alliance is required by law to deliver its final recommendations by Dec. 31.
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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.
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