MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2025
Media Contact:
Kayla Mattas
Marketing and Communications Director | She, Her, Hers | Stand for Children Indiana | [email protected]
Indianapolis parents, teachers and students to deliver recommendations aimed at creating a unified system of schools under a reimagined IPS
What:
On Wednesday, a coalition of parents, teachers, students, and community members with deep ties to the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and charter school ecosystem will present a new community-driven vision document titled “Together We Thrive: A Shared Vision for Student Success in Indianapolis.” The document will be shared with the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) and outlines a bold, unified path forward for public education in the city.
Who:
This vision was developed by a diverse group of advocates who began meeting in May to discuss challenges and opportunities within IPS and charter schools. After reviewing legislation that created the ILEA and identifying the most important education policies impacting youth and families, advocates formed working groups to generate ideas and recommendations. Advocates continued to discuss and revise their ideas in June and July leading up to the delivery of the document tonight.
Every contributor to “Together We Thrive: A Shared Vision for Student Success in Indianapolis” has direct experience within the IPS and the charter ecosystem—whether as a parent, educator, student, or community leader.
When:
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m.
When:
ILEA Meeting at Adelante at Emma Donnan
Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School – Scholar Center
1202 E. Troy Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46203
Why:
The vision calls for transformative changes to ensure every student in Indianapolis has access to a high-quality public education, regardless of their zip code or school type. Key recommendations include:
- Expanding transportation access so every school offers services for students who lack parental transportation.
- Unifying all public schools—IPS and charter—under a single IPS district governed by a board of both elected and appointed members.
- Empowering schools with the freedom to make decisions that best serve their students.
- Holding all schools accountable through a shared set of data-driven expectations and growing quality programs in every neighborhood.
- Redirecting more tax dollars to classrooms, elevating teacher pay, and reducing administrative overhead.
- Ensuring the next IPS referendum reflects these community-driven priorities.
Quotes from the “Together We Thrive” document:
“I want to see real accountability in all our schools—and smart collaboration between IPS and charters—so every child has access to what works,” said Swantella Nelson, parent.
“This is an emergency,” said Shawanda Tyson, parent. “We can’t allow years to pass while we think about how to hold all schools accountable. Let’s work together as a united community and efficiently find solutions for all our babies.”
“One of my brightest students took three buses and walked 25 minutes to school—at just 13 years old,” said Bony Georges, IPS teacher. “He had a dream, but the system didn’t support him. Too many kids like him are held back by barriers they can’t control.”
About:
This vision was created by a diverse group of parents, students, educators, and neighbors from every corner of Indianapolis—united by a shared commitment to better public education for all. All advocates are volunteer leaders affiliated with the education advocacy non-profit Stand for Children Indiana, which has been working to elevate community voices for nearly 15 years to improve education outcomes for historically underserved students in Indianapolis.
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