Collaboration between schools that on paper might be seen as competitors? You’d be hard-pressed to find quality examples. But ACE Prep Academy and Circle City Prep just joined forces, offering our local education ecosystem a compelling template for what inter-school collaboration can look like. Continue reading How ACE Prep and Circle City Prep Created a Collaborative Template for the Future
There’s a new acronym in town. I’m pleased to introduce you to the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA). It’s time to get acquainted to the advisory group that could transform the relationship between Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and charter schools in Indianapolis. Continue reading The Acronym That Just Might Transform the Relationship Between IPS/Charters
One thing that this legislative session proved is that the charter school sector carries weight as a collective. It is as much a political force as it is an educational force, its strength largely matching IPS. So where does the sector go from here? And what will its relationship be with IPS in the years to come? Continue reading Where Next for the Indianapolis Charter School Sector?
An amendment to Senate Bill 373 could open the door to deeper collaboration between IPS and charter schools on student transportation and facilities management. But IPS still has pushback on the measure and is hoping to a few final changes before the bill reaches the finish line. Continue reading IPS-Charter School Alliance For Transportation, Facilities Moves Forward
Indiana is considering drastically increasing funding for virtual schools across the state. But given their checkered history and poor academic track record, is that a good move? Continue reading Do Virtual Schools Deserve Equal Funding?
Three bills could have wide-ranging impacts on how property tax revenue is used to fund public schools across Indiana. We dig into the particulars of each and how they might impact our educational landscape moving forward. Continue reading Indiana is on the Precipice of Breaking New Ground in How it Funds Schools
Across ten pint-sized pages, House Bill 1501 proposes to 1) Establish a three-year “centralized school facilities pilot program,” and 2) Establish a three-year “student transportation pilot program.” It also creates a mechanism by which these pilot programs can be made permanent after the initial three years. Today, we dive deep into the potential impact of this legislation. Continue reading Will IPS Lose Control Over Referendums, Facilities, and Transportation?
The recently-proposed HB 1136 put a spotlight on public school enrollment trends, both in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and across the state. Today, we unpack enrollment for IPS, local charter schools, and all the other districts around Marion County. Is public school enrollment declining everywhere, or just in IPS? Continue reading The Fate of IPS and Public School Enrollment Trends Across Marion County
I recently sat down for an interview with Shaina Cavazos, the new Director of the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation (OEI). OEI is Indianapolis’ biggest charter school authorizer, overseeing the academics, finances, and operations of public charter schools that collectively serve over 18,000 students across Indianapolis. What follows is our conversation. Continue reading A Sit-Down With the New Director of Indianapolis’ Largest Charter School Authorizer
Are new partnerships between Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and local charter schools on the way? The invitation is now open after IPS announced that they are accepting letters of interest until September 30 for local charter schools to join their Innovation Network. Continue reading IPS Opens the Door to Deeper Charter School Collaboration
