Protect Publicly-Elected School Boards in Indiana - VOTE THIS WEEK

H.B. 1423 would create the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) school board, which would be fully appointed by the mayor of Indianapolis, robbing voters of their right to elect their school board members. Additionally, this unelected board would have the ability to raise property taxes, authorize new charter schools, and close public schools it deems “failing” without any of the public oversight publicly elected officials have.

This board would strip power from the currently publicly-elected Indianapolis Public Schools Board of Commissioners. Though this plan exists under the ruse of equitable schools, parent choice, and fair transportation, it is part of a larger plan by anti-public education advocates to dismantle one of the state’s largest school corporations. Though this bill is focused on Indianapolis schools, it is the beginning of broader efforts to remove public voice from public schools. Earlier this session, a bill put forward by Sen. Linda Rogers to similarly dismantle South Bend’s publicly elected school board failed.

Call your state senator and demand they oppose H.B. 1423 and keep the public in public schools.