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Understanding�House Bill 1136�

What does HB1136 mean to my district and public education

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House Bill 1136

Digest

Provides that, if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations.

Authored by: Rep. Jake Teshka

Co-Authored by: Rep Jeffrey Thompson, Rep. Timothy O’Brien

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House Bill 1136

Digest

Provides that, if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations.

Authored by: Rep. Jake Teshka

Co-Authored by: Rep Jeffrey Thompson, Rep. Timothy O’Brien

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If Passes 5 districts would be affected this first year.

	Students in sending district**	Sending district students enrolled in school corporation	Resident students enrolled at schools other than corporation	Corporation schools that would become charters
Cannelton City Schools	256	102	60%	1
Gary Community Schools	11,764	4,144	65%	9
Indianapolis Public Schools	49,721	19,228	61%	50
Tri-Township Schools	457	192	58%	3
Union School Corporation	370	128	65%	5

** Students with legal settlement in the school corporation boundaries and who are enrolled in and attending a school in the public school corporation or charter; or a non-public school as part of the Choice Scholarship program.

Chart: Eric Weddle / WFYISource: IDOE, Legislative Services AgencyCreated with Datawrapper

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Students in sending district**

** Students with legal settlement in the school corporation boundaries and who are enrolled in and attending a school in the public school corporation or charter; or a non-public school as part of the Choice Scholarship program.

traditional public school children

+ charter school children

+ private school children

Number of kids in sending district

Numbers skewed slightly by students in sending district that attend other traditional public schools, which are not included in these numbers.

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IPS as example:

49,721 = 24860

2

IPS had 19,228 students as of their fall 2024 ADM count.

39% of sending district students are enrolled in Indianapolis Public Schools.

They will be dissolved if bill passes.

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A Little Bit Of History

In 2014, an Indiana law was passed that allowed school districts to create Innovation Network Schools. (These schools are charter schools). They are public schools that operate independently and are exempt from some of the district rules.

Local school board can create, reconstitute or restart schools as Innovative Network Schools.
They are contracted with a non profit organization or management team
They have their own nonprofit board and are autonomous
They can have longer school days, enrichment activities and areas of focus
They can be exempt from some district rules and contract provisions

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A Little Bit Of History con’t

Districts can receive credit for the academic performance and enrollment of these school
These schools can access buildings and services
They can have more freedom and flexibility

They have “full operational autonomy” under Indiana law and are exempt from most district practices.

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Graduation Rates 2023 compared to 2024 ��

Graduating without a waiver increased from 84.9% to 87.5%

Free or reduced price meals increase from 88.7% to 91.5%

ELL Students increased from 87.7% to 89.5%

Traditional Public Schools increase from 91.3% to 92.5%

Private Schools increased from 92.% to 92.3%

Charter schools increased from 55% to 58.6%

IPS FWCS EVSC

81.5% 90% 83%

2024 87.5% 88.7% 84.3%

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IPS History with Innovative Network Schools

The first IPS Innovative Network School opened in 2015, and today they have approximately 30 Innovative schools.

Approximately 13,000 students attend these innovative schools.

If only half of these students were students in their sending district, IPS would have 19,228 + 6500 = 25,788 students, which would take them over their 50% requirement. While probably more than 6500, not a single one of them count towards the total required to keep from dissolving.

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Through legislature, the general assembly was encouraging districts to utilize the Innovative Network Schools system. IPS complied and unfortunately, it is now being used against them. ��We hear so much about school choice, but when it comes down to it, the general assembly is trying to take away a choice that 39% of parents choose for their children.

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Not My District, why should I worry about it.

After getting their foot in the door, what’s to say they won’t say 60% or 70% later on.
Destabilizing and defunding of public education in disguise of school choice.
Allowing of anti-public education special interest groups to siphon away public dollars from and dismantle public education.
Indiana has some of the most segregated schools in the nation.

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House Bill 1136

Digest

Provides that, if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations.

Authored by: Rep. Jake Teshka

Co-Authored by: Rep Jeffrey Thompson, Rep. Timothy O’Brien

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Currently the large majority of school boards are elected positions and are held accountable to the taxpayers of their district. Should this bill pass, the current district and board would dissolve and the new board would have zero elected members. Four members would be picked by the governor, one appointed by the mayor, one appointed by the Executive Director of the Indiana Charter School Board (a state agency controlled by the governor) and one member appointed by the president of the city-county council. All the people currently in these offices are charter school proponents.

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Innovation Network school buildings are the property of IPS. They are doing all the upkeep of the building including maintenance, utilities, custodial services etc. ��The teachers are not necessarily certified and in most cases are not covered by a union.

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Call Representative Teshka’s office at 317-232-9650��My name is ________. I am a resident of ________________.�I am contacting you today to urge you to remove HB1136 from consideration. This is important to me because_______________.

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Please write to the members of the House Education Committee:

Rep. Robert Behning, Chair……………………..h91@iga.in.gov……. 800-382-9841

Rep. Michelle Davis, Vice Chair………………...h58@iga.in.gov

Rep. Martin Carbaugh, Majority Member………h81@iga.in.gov

Rep. Becky Cash, Majority Member…….…….. h25@iga.in.gov

Rep. Andrew Ireland, Majority Member………...h90@iga.in.gov

Rep. Julie McGuire, Majority Member…………..h93@iga.in.gov

Rep. Zach Payne, Majority Member…………….h66@iga.in.gov

Rep. Hunter Smith, Majority Member……………h24@iga.in.gov

Rep. Jake Teshka, Majority Member…………….h7@iga.in.gov

Rep. Vernon Smith, Ranking Minority Member…h14@iga.in.gov….. 800-382-9842

Rep. Edwary Delaney, Minority Member………...h86@iga.in.gov

Rep. Sheila Klinker, Minority Member……………h27@iga.in.gov

Rep. Tonya Pfaff, Minority Member………………h43@iga.in.gov

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Make sure you have contacted your representatives �as well to let them know how you feel about HB 1136.

To find your legislator, go to Indianapta.org and select the advocacy tab.

Cursor down to FIND MY ELECTED OFFICIALS

Find Sample Letters on IndianaPTA.org

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