Yesterday, Governor Braun signed into law a tax reform bill that included language to address the nearly $100 million funding gap impacting students in public charter schools. This policy, which was originally in Senate Bill 518, will lead to a fairer funding structure as property taxes get shared equitably across all public school types starting in 2028.  

Before this passed, the funding gap between school types was nearly $8,000 per child, totaling more than $100 million across the system. That gap will now be almost entirely closed. This is life changing for the tens of thousands of students in IPS boundaries who have been attending schools that receive significantly less funding.  

As you may know, I joined several other parents and community members and spoke up during the legislative session. I went to the statehouse to tell legislators why I believe the students in our public charter schools deserved to have the same opportunities at school as students who attend our traditional public schools. I’m really happy that lawmakers listened, and I want to thank advocates and parents who stood with me and parents like me this session. It wasn’t easy for me to speak up, but I’m glad I did. I hope these funding changes, which will be phased in over the next four years, helps students like mine have fair opportunities at school that they wouldn’t have had.  

On March 5, two parents and two students affiliated with Stand for Children Indiana waited at the Statehouse for over five hours to testify on Senate Bill 518. These advocates testified in favor of the bill because of their love for Indianapolis– and their strongly held belief that IPS can and must change to meet the needs and challenges of all 42,000 children within the district. Organizationally, we support this bill because we know there is a significant funding gap between school types in Indianapolis, with charters receiving an average of $7,900 less per student compared to traditional schools. When you total up this gap, it means public charter schools are receiving over $100 million less in funding compared to traditional public schools in IPS. We hope that through this bill, IPS and state leaders who are both opposed and supportive find some desperately needed common ground and a path towards ensuring our public schools are funded fairly.  

Please take a moment to watch advocate testimony on Senate Bill 518: 

On Tuesday, February 11, several advocates went to the statehouse to support Senate Bill 518. The statehouse was packed with both people who support and oppose this bill. We support Senate Bill 518 because we know there is a significant funding gap between school types in Indianapolis, with charters receiving an average of $7,900 less per student compared to traditional schools. When you total up this gap, it means public charter schools are receiving over $100 million less in funding compared to traditional public schools. If we removed the charter vs. traditional framing, and all the built-up politics that have sewn division rather than generate solutions, I would find it hard to believe any person would argue that two public schools in the same zip code should have vastly different resources.

It is our hope that the dialogue with district leaders, bill authors and community partners will continue, and that there is openness to solutions that acknowledge the fact we must do right by all 42,000 public school students within IPS boundaries.

Advocates who testified in favor of equitably sharing property taxes with all public school types waited for hours in order to testify and while they were limited it time, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to hear what they had to say:

I believe that how much we value a student’s education should not be determined by the type of public school building that they walk into.

Watch my story:

The majority of K-12 students in IPS boundaries attend a charter school of some type (innovation or independent charter). However, these schools are forced to perform with a funding gap that averages about $7,900 per student because property taxes do not get distributed to charter schools.

When I was in 3rd grade, I was held back a year because I didn’t understand English. I know firsthand what it means to be an English Language Learner (ELL) who attends an underfunded school and ends up stuck in the system.

As a part of the Stand for Children Indiana spotlight series, watch my video to learn why I spoke up during the legislative session and how advocates like me are making a positive change:

I had never spoken to legislators before, and due to working until 6 A.M., I had not gotten much sleep. While I am generally a very private person, I showed up and waited my turn to speak because I knew my story was worth sharing. I knew there were other students like me in Indiana, who had been held back and stuck in the system. I wanted to make sure they received more support that provided them with the environment to graduate on time and excel in school.

Today, I am glad I shared my story. Not only will ELL students see some additional funding, but the experience taught me that my voice matters and can make a difference.

If you have a story to tell, I encourage you to join Stand for Children Indiana’s email list and share by emailing [email protected].

Being an ELL teacher has been the most heartbreaking and rewarding profession imaginable. It’s heartbreaking because so many of my students are misunderstood and often called lazy, but they are undoubtedly the hardest working people I know.

I have been teaching for about 10 years now. I have taught at several charter schools and all the work I have done has been with English Language Learning (ELL) students.

I decided to testify on behalf of more funding this legislative session because as a teacher I know our charter schools often serve a higher percentage of low-income students and diverse students, but they receive much less funding from the state. I also know the lack of support and resources for ELL programming often translates to more students being stuck in the system. Students (like Lizzie) who don’t need to be.

As a part of the Stand for Children Indiana spotlight series, watch my video to learn why I shared my story and how advocates like me are making a difference:

Through Stand for Children Indiana, I have learned not only how to use my voice, but how to effectively use it for positive change. We all have a story to share that can make a difference. If you have a story to tell, I encourage you to join Stand for Children Indiana’s email list and share by emailing [email protected].

Watch my testimony to the School Funding Subcommittee from March 16 in the video below. After you watch, join me and take action today by emailing key legislative leaders.

Watch my testimony to the School Funding Subcommittee from March 16 in the video below. After you watch, join me and take action today by emailing key legislative leaders.

Watch my testimony to the School Funding Subcommittee from March 16 in the video below. After you watch, join me and take action today by emailing key legislative leaders.

Watch my testimony to the School Funding Subcommittee from March 16 in the video below. After you watch, join me and take action today by emailing key legislative leaders.