Category: ILEA

When it comes to improving public education, data-driven decisions matter—and Denver Public Schools (DPS) offers a powerful case study. 

A 2024 report from the University of Colorado Denver examined nearly two decades of school reforms in DPS, focusing on how the district used accountability systems to guide school improvement. The findings are clear: when districts act on data—expanding what works and phasing out what doesn’t—student outcomes improve. 

📈 Key Takeaways from the Study: 

• Closing low-performing schools and replacing them with higher-quality options led to better academic outcomes for students. 

• Students displaced by school closures often ended up in higher-performing schools, especially when the district prioritized equity in its placement process. 

• The district’s focus on accountability and continuous improvement helped drive long-term gains, particularly for students of color and those from low-income backgrounds. 

🧭 Why It Matters 

This study reinforces what education advocates have long believed: accountability isn’t about punishment—it’s about progress. When school systems are willing to make tough decisions based on student outcomes, they can create more equitable opportunities for all learners. 

As Indianapolis and other cities consider how to improve public education, Denver’s experience offers a roadmap: use data, act boldly, and always center students. 

📖 Read the full study summary here: https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/docs/librariesprovider36/default-document-library/denver-study-summary-september-2024.pdf?sfvrsn=60236bb4_1 

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About This Series: Understanding the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) 

In 2025, Indiana lawmakers passed House Bill 1515, establishing the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA)—a task force comprised of local leaders led by the mayor of Indianapolis with the goal of generating ideas to ensure IPS traditional schools and the charter sector are collaborating to improve student outcomes. The ILEA is not about choosing one type of school over another. It’s about building a cohesive system of schools—district, charter, and innovation—that work together to deliver better outcomes for all students. 

This blog series explores the key policy areas that our advocates believe are essential to creating a high-performing, student-centered education system. Each post will dive into a specific topic—ranging from school accountability and funding to transportation—highlighting how these elements can support a system that prioritizes better results for students. 

When we talk about improving public education, one word often rises to the top:  accountability. But what does that really mean—and why does it matter so much? 

At  Stand Indiana, we believe accountability isn’t about consequences or blame. It’s about  ensuring every student has access to a high-quality public education. That means identifying what’s working, fixing what’s not, and making decisions based on real data and student outcomes. 

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📊 What Accountability Looks Like 

Accountability in education means having a clear, consistent system to measure school performance and take action when schools consistently underperform. It’s about: 

• Scaling up schools and programs that are proven to work, especially for underserved students.  

• Phasing out or redesigning schools that continue to struggle, year after year. 

• Using data—not politics—to guide decisions  that impact students’ futures. 

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🧭 Why It Matters in Indianapolis 

Here in Indianapolis, more than 46,000 students are served across all public school types. Every one of those students deserves a school that helps them thrive. 

That’s why Stand Indiana has long advocated for a plan to  grow school models that are data-proven to improve outcomes for underserved students—and to roll back those that aren’t working, regardless of whether they’re traditional or charter. 

Accountability means asking hard questions—and demanding better answers. 

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🗣️ What Advocates Are Saying 

Our community has spoken up again and again: 

• “I want IPS schools that close the gap.” 

• “Our children deserve an equitable education.” 

• “I’m asking IPS for proven schools.” 

Last year, Stand Indiana and our partners delivered a petition to IPS calling for a  detailed plan to grow great schools. The board responded with resolution to reopen the innovation school application process—unfortunately not a proactive plan to partner with high-performing schools. 

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📚 What the Research Shows 

A University of Colorado study on Denver Public Schools shows what is possible when districts make data-driven decisions grounded in an accountable system: student outcomes improve when quality is scaled, and low-performing schools are closed or restructured. 

We’ve also compiled our own data on the  best-performing schools for children of color  in Indianapolis.  

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✅ The Bottom Line 

Accountability isn’t a buzzword—it’s a  lifeline  for students who have been underserved for far too long. If we want to build a truly fair education system, we must start with a  shared definition of success  and a  clear plan to get there. 

Because every child deserves a school that works. 

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About This Series: Understanding the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) 

In 2025, Indiana lawmakers passed House Bill 1515, establishing the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA)—a task force comprised of local leaders led by the mayor of Indianapolis with the goal of generating ideas to ensure IPS traditional schools and the charter sector are collaborating to improve student outcomes. The ILEA is not about choosing one type of school over another. It’s about building a cohesive system of schools—district, charter, and innovation—that work together to deliver better outcomes for all students. 

This blog series explores the key policy areas that our advocates believe are essential to creating a high-performing, student-centered education system. Each post will dive into a specific topic—ranging from school accountability and funding to transportation—highlighting how these elements can support a system that prioritizes better results for students. 

As a local task force known as the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance begins its work, parents across the city are watching closely—and with hope. Created through House Bill 1515, the ILEA represents a new opportunity to envision a public education system that puts student outcomes first, no matter the type of school. For families, this isn’t just about policy—it’s about real change in the areas that matter most. 

We hope the task force members will keep in mind these parent stories and testimonies:   

• Cristal Salgado’s story about current unfair system for transportation, which prevents families from accessing several quality public schools because they don’t offer transportation. 

• Parent advocate LaToya Hale Tahirou’s  testimony on the need for using data on student outcomes to drive decision-making – especially around growing school models that are working best for students who have struggled the most. 

• Sashah Fletcher’s comments on ensuring fair funding across all public school types.  

Advocates have been clear about the need to address the painful achievement gap that persists in IPS and other districts inside Indianapolis/Marion County. The ILEA represents a great opportunity to think about how the best in both sectors – IPS and public charter schools – can be leveraged to deliver dramatically better outcomes for all students, including those who remain furthest from opportunity.  

But that work begins with listening to parents – these parents – who have lived in the system and know what needs to be done to address the core issues that continue to stand in the way of fairness and equal opportunity for every child to succeed.    

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About This Series: Understanding the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) 

In 2025, Indiana lawmakers passed House Bill 1515, establishing the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA)—a task force comprised of local leaders led by the mayor of Indianapolis  with the goal of generating ideas to ensure IPS traditional schools and the charter sector are collaborating to improve student outcomes. The ILEA is not about choosing one type of school over another. It’s about building a cohesive system of schools—district, charter, and innovation—that work together to deliver better outcomes for all students. 

This blog series explores the key policy areas that our advocates believe are essential to creating a high-performing, student-centered education system. Each post will dive into a specific topic—ranging from school accountability and funding to transportation—highlighting how these elements can support a system that prioritizes better results for students.