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I heard the rumors, but now I know they’re true. IPS leaders have been considering a plan that would shrink the boundaries of the district down to Center Township. They outlined this idea this week at their town hall meeting.

As an IPS dad and uncle who has been very invested in this district, I’m shocked and angry about this idea. Apparently, this idea has gained some momentum. While some IPS board members told attendees at the town hall on Tuesday that this vision for a Center Township district is only being raised to get community input, other board members took to the microphone to sell the idea.

One commissioner, Gayle Cosby, told the packed gym at school 88 that there are good reasons to consider dismantling IPS. She suggested keeping only the schools in Center Township lines. She said this plan offers a simple way to efficiently close schools. Another commissioner confirmed in our table discussion that some IPS leaders have already talked to leaders of the township schools about this idea.

This whole effort feels like a betrayal by IPS. When they put up the slides Tuesday night, they didn’t showcase the families that have supported IPS. Families like mine have been strongly supportive of every IPS referendum. In fact, I’ve actually joined other parents at Stand knocking doors to win voter support for investing in IPS and our school buildings. I have been an amazing supporter of this board. I have even campaigned or voted for many of them. So it is truly hurtful to learn that now IPS is thinking about handing those schools over to townships. Or, as the previously mentioned commissioner talked about, moving to close those schools that fall outside of the Center Township boundary.

I want the opposite of this plan.

That’s why I joined parents, teachers and students pushing for a vision for IPS. This vision would grow the student population to 42,000 (not reduce it by thousands). This plan would expand transportation. Additionally, it would hold all schools – charters and IPS traditional schools – to account for getting great results for kids.

One other parent said it at the meeting. This idea of ending IPS and creating a smaller Center Township school district seems to be already in motion. It was clear from the slides that somebody has brought this up.

If ya’ll broke, say that. But we can’t advocate to help if plans are in motion that we don’t know about. We can’t support a plan that closes so much of the district for reasons unknown. Or reasons that aren’t rooted in the question I ask myself before I ever make a suggestion. And that question I ask myself is simple: “what’s best for kids, for ALL our kids.”

While I am very frustrated right now, the one thing I do know for certain is this: It’s up to us to advocate for something better for our students and our communities.

Join me: add your name to support the vision I helped write alongside other parents that would grow IPS and bring together our public schools no matter their type.

Last Thursday, we had our inaugural workshop in an exciting three-part series at Carriage House East! In this first session, participants explored how to create a conducive learning environment at home for students. They also learned how to set up a dedicated learning space, even in limited areas, to help their child thrive academically.

And most unforgettably, those in attendance learned how to rap about books they have read! Special shout out to our amazing host and presenter, Shawanda Tyson! We hear the kids are still talking about it! Each kid was able to go home with a FREE book!

Another shoutout to ALMA-Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy for donating household goods!

If you joined us for our end of year celebration, thank you! We hope you felt celebrated and our gratitude for your advocacy on behalf of children in 2024!

Check out photos from the event on our Facebook page:

I know the national election is likely top of mind for everyone, but I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the education champions who were elected in IPS on Tuesday and honor the many Stand Indiana parent advocates who worked tirelessly to support those candidates.   

We are so excited Stand-endorsed IPS board candidates Deandra “Dee” Thompson, Ashley Thomas, and Allissa Impink all won this week. And while District 2 candidate Hasaan Rashid lost, the entire Stand organization is so proud of the race he ran. 

We’re especially proud of Ashley Thomas, who is one of Stand Indiana’s original parent advocates. Ashley joined Stand’s first Stand University for Parents workshops in 2014 and went on to become one of this movement’s most effective advocates and leaders. She personally taught me a lot about advocacy and how to help volunteers and parents use their voices to make positive change. Nearly every person I know that cares about equity in education and closing opportunity gaps has a heartfelt story to share about Ashley and her tireless work and uplifting spirit.   

Ashley will now join two amazing leaders in Allissa Impink and Deandra Thompson – who both bring tremendous experience to the board as mothers, educators and community voices. We are so fortunate to have all three of these extraordinary women on the IPS board.   

Lastly, I want to make sure to thank the numerous Stand advocates who spent thousands of hours supporting our endorsed candidates. Look for information next week showcasing the data behind all of their hard work, which absolutely made a difference in the results on Tuesday.  

“As an organization that spent significant resources supporting the 2018 IPS referenda, we certainly understand the need to invest in our local public schools. While we look forward to hearing the full details of this latest referenda proposal, I’m confident the parents we work with will have several questions that need to be addressed, starting with the strategy that drives this ask of taxpayers.

“Black and Brown families have been clear in their feedback to IPS that the Rebuilding Stronger plan misses the mark when it comes to equitable opportunities for students. The plan greatly expands a school program that has among the worst racial testing gaps in the entire state of Indiana. What even more problematic< leaving out a key parent request to grow a local public school model that is seeing proficiency that is four times the state average for children of color. In hearing from our Stand parent advocates these last several months, I think it is safe to say that growing schools that are working best for children who have been historically underserved must be a key part of any plan funded by this potential referenda.

“It’s our hope that IPS will listen to the constructive feedback being offered by parents — especially parents of color — when it comes to both the referenda and the Rebuilding Stronger plan. For Stand to support any future referenda, the plan for utilizing this new taxpayer funding must be rooted in equity.”

Justin Ohlemiller, Executive Director, Stand for Children Indiana

We’re excited to have launched a new version of our website in August 2022 and are in the process of adding content from before 2022 to our records. Until then, if you have a question about Stand for Children Indiana or the work we do, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kayla Mattas at [email protected]. 

To learn more about some of the achievements we’ve made for Indiana students, we encourage you to read these news stories about our work: 

Parents pressure IPS to address academic gaps of Black, Brown students – May 2022 

Stand for Children Indiana unites parents, fights for education equity – December 2021 

How IPS is reaching bilingual families — and what parents want to see next – December 2021 

IPS may share $5 million in referendum funds with innovation schools – November 2021 

Study committee hears testimony on ‘heavy burden’ of juvenile costs, fees – October 2021 

Indianapolis Public Schools sets goals to close achievement gaps for minority students – July 2021 

Parents deliver petition to IPS, outline steps to create a more equitable district – July 2021 

‘Landmark’ juvenile justice bill awaiting governor’s signature – April 2021 

Parents want more action from Indianapolis Public Schools on racial equity goals – March 2021 

I recently spoke to IPS leaders at a board meeting and below is most of what I said. I spoke up because I want to see the district where my children attend get better and set the stage for how equity should look in our community. But I am one voice.

Please join me and parents like me who are asking the district to not only read the goals we have planned for making IPS more equitable, but to act on them by updating the 2025 strategic plan.

Without allies like you, IPS leaders might not take our request seriously, and the current IPS 2025 strategic plan leaves out a lot of detail. Without bold goals found in the details, I don’t see the district becoming truly equitable –despite the best of intentions.

District-wide, students who look like mine are less likely to succeed and I want to see a goal that ensures that’s not going to continue to be the case. I hope to see the IPS strategic plan and equity policy include a goal of increasing Black and Brown student performance and outcomes over the next 5-6 years – if not sooner. The parent vision for a more just and equitable IPS calls for increasing proficiency rates for Black students by 300% over 6 years.

District-wide, children who look like mine are less likely to have a teacher they can relate to. This has to change. I want to see the IPS equity policy and strategic plan set clear, specific goals for growing the number of teachers of color in the district.

District-wide, non-English speaking families are being left out of the conversations and decisions. I want to see the IPS board draft and vote to approve a language justice policy that shapes how schools better support parents and students with language differences.

District-wide, only some schools received their share of referendum dollars. All schools in this district are IPS schools and the funds should be distributed in a way where all schools can get what they need for our babies to succeed. I hope to see the IPS board take action on sharing referendum dollars with innovation schools by this summer.

District-wide, I believe there are mixed feelings about the police in schools. I hope IPS leaders will work to get the community opinion of police-free schools and share the benefits and challenges of ending police presence in schools. I don’t know what the answer should be, but I would like to know if the data shows the funds spent on police could better serve students by being spent on counselors and support services. If we keep police in our schools, I hope they are properly trained to help students and not grow the school-to-prison pipeline.

Last, some schools are equitably serving kids, which is why I know the IPS district can prove all kids can achieve with the right supports. I hope to see the IPS board have a clear plan for duplicating schools that are working for kids like mine. My students attend IPS #87. While a lot of IPS schools have gaps between white kids and Black and Brown kids on tests, the gap is smaller at #87.  Equity is really important to me, so closing that gap at all IPS schools must be a priority. But to close the gap, the board needs to have a timeline and goals for ensuring we have more models that are proven to work for the kids this district serves.

If you agree, please add your name to our vision. There is strength in numbers and the only way the IPS board will act is if enough people show their support.