Latest Stories

  • The ILEA Finalizes Possible Recommendations Ahead of Key Vote on Future of Indianapolis Education

    The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance is set to vote on its final recommendations for the future of public school governance, transportation, and facilities on December 17. Between now and then, there’ll be two more listening sessions on the 10th and the 15th to allow for final public input. Here’s the two options still on the table…

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  • The ILEA Holds the Fate of IPS and Indianapolis Charter Schools In Its Hands

    For months, the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance has been working to craft a series of proposals regarding the future of Indianapolis Public Schools and independent charter schools in Indianapolis. Now, they’ve finally put forward a series of options regarding the future of transportation, facilities, and governance. Here they are.

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  • Is Shrinking IPS Boundaries a Good Idea? Is It Even Possible?

    Rumors recently swirled about IPS proposing new district boundaries that would limit them to just Center Township. Then IPS made it real by floating the idea during recent community meetings. Is it a good idea? Is it even possible to redraw IPS boundaries in that way?

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  • We Finally Know How Many Students Indiana’s 3rd Grade Retention Requirement Held Back

    During the 2024 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 1, meant to spur improvements in student literacy outcomes. It also required all third grade students who didn’t pass IREAD by the end of third grade be retained. How many students got retained? We finally have the data.

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  • Can You Be a Progressive and Support School Choice?

    Can you be politically progressive and support school choice and charter schools? How much does it matter that a majority of Americans support school choice? Those were just some of the questions raised in watching the public comment portion of the ILEA’s most recent meeting.

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  • To Grade Schools on an A-F Scale, Indiana is Going to Grade Students

    Ever since the 2025 legislative session closed, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has been working on a new A-F accountability system for schools statewide. It’s been seven years since schools last got a letter grade, but they’re about to get one again. And this time, students are going to get graded in the process.

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  • IPS Lays Out Its Vision to the ILEA

    Rise Indy, Stand for Children, and the Indiana Charter Innovation Center have all lobbied the ILEA with a set of recommendations about the future of education in Indianapolis. Now it’s IPS’ turn, with the board submitting seven recommendations to the ILEA.

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  • Can Indianapolis Create Accessible School Transportation For All Students?

    Is it possible to provide high-quality, accessible transportation for every public school student across IPS and the charter school sector? A new pilot program that brings together over 50 Indianapolis schools will explore sharing transportation and facility resources to deliver better service to students. We look at what the pilot might do in practice.

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  • Franklin Township Community School Corporation and the Battle Over a Google Data Center

    Development plans for a new Google data center have been winding their way through the Indianapolis City-County Council in recent weeks. A final hearing is scheduled for September 22. Franklin Township Community School Corporation just came out in support of the data center after previously opposing it. But would the data center benefit students and…

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  • Is Indianapolis Destined to Become an All-Charter-School City?

    Will Indianapolis become an all-charter-school city? That question was at the heart of a recent feature article in Chalkbeat. And for good reason. Stand for Children’s “Together We Thrive” proposal calls for a fundamental reimagining of education in Indianapolis that would put us on a path to being the next New Orleans.

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