Category: Media

This announcement concerns new legislation about phone-free schools Indiana is implementing across the state.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
February 25, 2026

Media Contact: 
Kayla Mattas 
Marketing and Communications Director | She, Her, Hers | Stand for Children Indiana | M: 765-721-2833 | [email protected]  

Parents praise passage of bipartisan phone-free schools bill 

INDIANAPOLIS – Parents with Stand for Children Indiana have issued the following statement celebrating the final passage of Senate Bill 78, which requires schools to go smart-phone free from the first bell to the end of the school day.  

Stand for Children advocates and staff testified in support of SB 78 in both chambers, pointing out the mounting evidence that cell phones are impacting teaching and learning in schools.   

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“Our students deserve classrooms designed for learning and engagement, not environments where teachers compete with a phone screen for their attention.  

“My daughter is a freshman, and I see what phones are doing to her ability to pay attention, as well as her classmates. Kids are posting TikToks and checking their phones during school – it’s a complete distraction, even when that’s all it is. But phones in schools are also perpetuating bullying and keeping kids from connecting one on one.  That’s why I’m grateful to lawmakers for coming together with Senate Bill 78 to make our schools phone-free from bell to bell.” 

 -Greg Henson, Father and Stand advocate 

“We’ve moved away from in-person connection and turned our attention to a screen and the algorithms created to capture and keep our attention – at the cost of real-life relationships.   

“Now we have an entire generation of young people who have little concept of what real-life, in-person relationships look like because they experience a phone-based life.  

“We need to take the phones out of the hands of young people – at least for the hours during school – and help them recapture their ability to be attentive and form more meaningful relationships with each other.” 

-LaToya Hale, Mother and Stand advocate 

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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
February 25, 2026 

Media Contact: 
Kayla Mattas 
Marketing and Communications Director | She, Her, Hers | Stand for Children Indiana | M: 765-721-2833 | [email protected] 

Stand for Children advocates thank state lawmakers for passing HB1423 

INDIANAPOLIS – Stand for Children Indiana has issued the following statements from advocates reacting to the final passage of House Bill 1423, which creates the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation to strengthen collaboration between IPS and the charter sector. 

“For years, I’ve advocated for schools that close the opportunity gap. But the truth is, that gap remains. House Bill 1423 gives us a chance to change that, and I want to thank lawmakers for supporting this bill.  

“The new building and transportation authority creates a structure where IPS and charters can work together, where resources are shared, and where the focus is on students—not systems. By requiring transportation across all school types and expanding programs that deliver the best results, this bill creates greater opportunity for families who lack real choices in our current system.” 

-Dontia Dyson, IPS parent and Stand advocate 

 “When buses are unreliable or buildings are not properly maintained, families are left with limited options. Parents like me ask for help, and we wait for improvements, but too often we’re left waiting. That’s why I’m excited to see House Bill 1423 pass the legislature. 

“This bill is about greater accountability and more access to quality schools. It’s about ensuring students can get to school safely and learn in buildings that support their success.” 

-Ada Lemus, IPS parent and Stand Advocate 

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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all. 

Statement on the House approving House Bill 1423

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2026

Media Contact:
Kayla Mattas
Marketing and Communications Director | She, Her, Hers | Stand for Children Indiana | [email protected]

Indianapolis – Stand for Children Indiana today issued the following statement on the House approving HB 1423:

Advocates with Stand for Children Indiana applaud the House passing HB 1423. Parents and students have spent the last many months calling on leaders to expand transportation to include all public schools across IPS, shape an accountability and school performance framework, and create a vision to grow school models that are closing the opportunity gap. House Bill 1423 sets in motion bold policy changes that lay the groundwork for these exact improvements, which advocates believe will increase access to quality schools and improve student outcomes over time.  

While we know HB 1423 will continue to evolve, we appreciate the work being done so far by lawmakers to listen to feedback and keep student progress and expanded opportunity front and center in this bill.

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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

December 17, 2025  

Advocates applaud ILEA for bold recommendations on transportation and accountability  

INDIANAPOLIS – Advocates with Stand for Children Indiana tonight offered words of gratitude to members of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) for their support of recommendations that could lead to expanded transportation and a single accountability system for all public schools in IPS.  

The ILEA affirmed a series of recommendations in a majority vote tonight, including: 

• The creation of building and transportation authority, which would oversee facilities and transportation across schools in IPS and independent charter schools; 
• A requirement that all schools provide transportation through the new authority; 
• A unified school accountability system for IPS and charter schools, likely leading to the growth of high-quality school programs and a greater focus on data-driven decisions to increase student achievement; and  
• A more streamlined approach to charter school authorizing by limiting the number of authorizers to two within IPS (the mayor’s office and the state charter board). 

Advocates with Stand Indiana created their own recommendations and delivered them to the ILEA in August. While the ILEA’s final plan differs somewhat from advocates’ ideas, parents celebrated the focus on stronger school accountability, a growing transportation system and a more unified and coherent approach to school facilities.  

“I’ve had children in charter schools, IPS schools, and innovation schools. The school type never mattered. What mattered was whether the school helped them thrive,” said LaToya Tahirou, a mom and longtime education advocate. “I want to thank the ILEA for working through so many difficult challenges to find much-needed common ground when it comes to school accountability, facilities and transportation.  

“We have to shape a system that puts children over politics – and pushes our leaders to use data to make decisions around what schools to grow and what programs to roll back because they’re failing our children,” Tahirou said. “The ILEA recommendations are a good starting point to creating a system like this.”  

Bony Georges, an IPS teacher who was critical of an initial draft of the ILEA’s governance structures, said he appreciates the changes that were made to remove some bureaucratic layers and simplify the governance recommendation.  

“It’s very important to have an independent structure that would improve transportation, facilities, and accountability in order to help IPS and charter schools perform better,” said Georges. “I am pleased the ILEA has recommended to cut down the number of [charter] authorizers, called for one clear performance standard for all schools, and supported a plan to expand transportation so every family can actually exercise school choice, no matter where they live.”  

The ILEA recommendations will be sent to the state legislature, where lawmakers will ultimately decide what ideas to consider adding to legislation this session. While some ideas noted by the ILEA could be implemented locally, most will require a change to state law.  

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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all. 

For Immediate Release

February 7, 2024

Contact:
Kayla Mattas
765.721.2833 (mobile)

Parents release petition signed by over 1,000 calling for district to grow top schools for Black and Brown students

INDIANAPOLIS – A group of public school parents unveiled their petition today calling for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) to grow proven models from all school types, including local charter schools. The petition led by parents garnered more than 1,000 signatures, showcasing strong community support for district leaders to develop a strategy that will close the opportunity gap by scaling the top performing schools for Black and Brown students.

Advocates delivered the petition to IPS leaders today at an event that took place at the district administration building. Parents Gregory Henson, Irma Perdomo and Susan Sargent, alongside Believe Circle City student Elazia Davison, shared their personal stories that detailed why elevating Black and Brown student achievement is so important to them.

“I am here today to celebrate the growing support from our community to improve public education in our city and intentionally work toward partnerships [with data-proven schools] . . .” Sargent said.

Parents who led the press conference asked the IPS board to pass a resolution calling on the district administration to deliver a detailed plan by the summer to scale school models – including public charter schools – that are closing the opportunity gap according to state assessment data.

“We also want to be clear that this plan must be in place before parents are expected to support any future referendum put forward by IPS,” Henson said.

Parents began gathering signatures last fall after reviewing ILEARN data. In October, the IPS board members were presented with similar data regarding assessment outcomes in and around the IPS district. The report highlighted the top schools in the city when it comes to proficiency for Black and Latino students.

“I am grateful [IPS] shared the data because it gives us, as a community, the information we need to know – information not easily visible in other districts,” Perdomo said.

According to the October IPS board presentation:

• The district has only one school in the top quartile in Marion County when it comes to Black student performance on ILEARN (both ELA and Math) when excluding the gifted and talented school, where children must test into;
• IPS has no schools in the top quartile in the county when looking at pass rates for Latino students for ILEARN (both ELA and Math); and
• IPS has three of the six top high schools in Marion County as measured by SAT performance.
• All top performing high schools are IPS innovation network charter schools, which advocates believe highlight the benefits of partnerships with high-quality schools in the charter sector.  

Parents pointed out that, in contrast, some independent charter schools within IPS boundaries are delivering student outcomes for Black and Latino students that are anywhere between three and five times better than the state average for pass rates on both sections of the ILEARN, according to the Indiana Department of Education.

“I am fortunate that the school I chose has pushed me to excel and set me up to break barriers in my next chapter of life,” Davison said. “I want every student in our city to know that feeling.”

Community members wishing to join the parent-led efforts should visit:  growwhatworks.com

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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all.

About Better Together: The Better Together campaign is supported and driven by Indianapolis families who strive to unite IPS and charter schools for the benefit of our kids and community.

About EmpowerED Families: EmpowerED Families connects with Indianapolis parents, families, community and school leaders to help build parent power and to activate change.

Media Advisory

Feb. 6, 2024

Contact:
Kayla Mattas
765.721.2833 (mobile)

Parents to deliver petition signed by 1,000 IPS residents calling for district to grow top schools for Black and Brown students

INDIANAPOLIS – A group of public-school parents will hold a press conference at 12:00 p.m. on February 7 to present their petition, which has gathered over 1,000 signatures, to Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) leaders. Parents and concerned community members are calling on the IPS board to direct the administration to deliver a detailed plan by the summer to scale school models – including public charter schools — that are closing the opportunity gap. 

During the press conference, public school parents Gregory Henson, Irma Perdomo and Susan Sargent will join Believe Circle City student Elazia Davison to deliver the petition and tell their personal stories about why elevating Black and Brown student achievement is so important to them. The parent speakers represent advocates from Stand for Children Indiana and EmpowerED Families.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 7 | 12 p.m.

WHERE: The John Morton Finney Center for Educational Services, 120 E Walnut St

Parents began gathering signatures last fall after reviewing state ILEARN data. In October, the IPS board members were presented with similar data regarding ILEARN scores in and around the IPS district. IPS’ data report highlighted the top schools in the city when it comes to proficiency for Black and Latino students.

According to the October IPS board presentation:

• The district has only one school in the top quartile in Marion County when it comes to Black student performance on ILEARN (both ELA and Math) when excluding the gifted and talented school, where children must test into;
• IPS has no schools in the top quartile in the county when looking at pass rates for Latino students for ILEARN (both ELA and Math); and
• IPS has three of the six top high schools in Marion County as measured by SAT performance.
  1. All top performing schools are IPS innovation network schools, which advocates believe highlights the benefits of partnerships with high-quality schools in the charter sector.  

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About Stand for Children Indiana: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all.

About Better Together: The Better Together campaign is supported and driven by Indianapolis families who strive to unite IPS and charter schools for the benefit of our kids and community.

About EmpowerED Families: EmpowerED Families connects with Indianapolis parents, families, community and school leaders to help build parent power and to activate change.

Change comes amid national study giving some of Indiana’s largest teachers colleges ‘Fs’ for their training approach to teaching literacy

INDIANAPOLIS – A new law passed in April by the Indiana General Assembly calls for a review of whether educator preparation programs are training their teacher candidates in the science of reading, a vast body of research that details how the human brain learns to read and write. According to a newly released national study, this state review is desperately needed when it comes to some of Indiana’s largest teacher prep programs.

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) issued a report this week that gave educator preparation programs at Ball State University and Indiana University-Bloomington — among the largest teachers colleges in the state — an “F” grade for not introducing key concepts related to evidence-based reading instruction. NCTQ’s research also detailed higher education institutions doing the best when it comes to training future educators on the science of reading, including Marian University, Evansville University and Purdue University – Northwest.

Under HEA 1558, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will review accredited educator preparation programs specifically for whether curriculum and teaching practices align with the science of reading. Under the law, the IDOE can require an improvement plan from any institution falling short in its instruction around teaching literacy, as well as revoke state accreditation from educator preparation programs that fail to meet requirements.

“NCTQ’s recent report shows that some of our largest teacher prep programs appear to be virtually ignoring teaching evidence-based literacy practices to future educators,” said Stand for Children Indiana Executive Director Justin Ohlemiller. “If we’re going to address the literacy crisis in our state, it’s going to take a significant change in approach from those who are responsible for training our educators of the future.”

Only 33% of Indiana 4^th graders are reading proficiently according to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP).

Indiana’s review of teacher preparation programs will take place in 2024, according to the new science of reading law passed by lawmakers in April.

Stand for Children Indiana joined with partners last legislative session in rallying parents, teachers and education leaders to support HEA 1558, which creates new guidelines and requirements to ensure instructional practices in classrooms align with the science of reading.

In addition to the changes to Indiana law, the IDOE is leading a significant effort to support early literacy improvements — including targeted investments to help higher education institutions improve their instruction around the science of reading. 
 

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About Stand: Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational success and social progress, to create a brighter future for us all.
For more information, please visit: https://stand.org/indiana/