Category: IPEC

IPEC is a new local education governmental body created in March 2026 to bring together some important core functions of Indianapolis Public Schools and public charters schools – expanding collaboration between the two sectors. Over the next two years, IPEC will begin to oversee transportation, facilities and a shared school accountability system across all public schools within IPS boundaries – traditional schools and public charter schools. 

IPEC was created through state law after a mayoral-led task force, called the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA), made several recommendations focused on changing school governance in order to elevate collaboration between IPS and the charter sector. The recommendations specifically focused on the creation of a unified accountability and transportation system, as well as an authority that would oversee facilities in IPS and the charter sector. These ILEA recommendations were outlined in House Enrolled Act 1423, which ultimately passed into law earlier this year.   

For many years, parents and advocates have called for changes to close opportunity gaps, grow schools that work for students, and make it easier for every child to access a great public school – especially when families can’t provide transportation on their own. Also, IPS is facing significant financial challenges with the district likely to run out of funding to operate by the end of 2026. IPEC was created to address these issues while greatly enhancing collaboration between charters and IPS. 

Stand for Children Indiana is advocating for an expanded and consistent transportation system that serves all public school students, data-driven decisions about school quality and access, and fair funding approaches that reflect enrollment and facility needs across both IPS and charter schools. Stand Indiana advocates want greater accountability for improving student outcomes in both sectors and a strategy to replicate school programs that we know work thanks to objective data.  

It’s true that IPEC’s board is appointed by the mayor of Indianapolis. However, voters still very much have direct influence over IPEC. For example:  

• Indianapolis’ mayor now has direct engagement with IPS and traditional public education and can be held accountable for IPEC and future outcomes for Indianapolis students. 

• Three of the nine IPEC members are current commissioners of the IPS board, who are all elected by voters. It’s important to note that the IPS school board still exists with all seven members being elected by voters. 

• All members of IPEC are required to live within IPS boundaries, and if they move, they must give up their seat on the board.  

Data show very few voters actually know who their school board member is, and voter engagement in school board races is dramatically lower than other government offices on the ballot. However, local voters are very familiar with the mayor of Indianapolis, and there’s a belief that education – which is critical to the long-term success of a community – will now be a much more significant issue in future mayoral races. 

Lastly, there are many local government boards that make decisions around taxes and other initiatives where the mayor appoints some or all of the members, so IPEC is not unique in that aspect.  

IPEC will manage setting future property tax rates for public schools, overseeing student transportation, and managing school facilities in both IPS and the charter sector. IPEC focuses on systems—not day-to-day school operations. 

IPEC does not run schools. The IPS school board continues to oversee traditional IPS schools, and charter school boards continue to oversee their own schools or networks. These boards still make decisions about staffing, curriculum, instruction, and budgeting. 

IPEC is governed by a nine-member board appointed by the mayor of Indianapolis. The board includes leaders from IPS, charter schools, and the broader community, bringing a mix of education, nonprofit, and financial experience to guide IPEC’s work. 

Current IPEC Board Members 

• Hope Star, President, IPS Board of School Commissioners 

• Ashley Thomas, Member, IPS Board of School Commissioners 

• Deandra Thompson, Member, IPS Board of School Commissioners 

• David Harris, President & CEO, Christel House International 

• Janet McNeal, President, Herron Classical Schools 

• Dexter Taylor, Director, Paramount Brookside Charter School 

• Patricia Castañeda, Vice President, KeyBank 

• John Hammond, Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 

• Edward Rangel, Founding CEO, Adelante Schools