Indiana bill would solve enrollment free fall by closing 5 districts and converting to charter schools

To combat declining enrollment in public education, an Indiana lawmaker is suggesting “unprecedented action” – dissolve underperforming districts and convert existing schools into…

To combat declining enrollment in public education, an Indiana lawmaker is suggesting “unprecedented action” – dissolve underperforming districts and convert existing schools into charters.

“A state bill introduced earlier this month comes as elected officials tackle an issue facing cities across the country: how to share state and property tax dollars between public schools that are losing students and charter schools that are gaining them,” explains Patrick O’Donnell for The 74, a nonprofit news organization.

Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, wrote Indiana House Bill 1136 focusing on school districts where enrollment has declined by half.

If passed, the bill would close five state districts, including Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS).

The existing system is penalizing parents whose children attend charter schools yet still pay property taxes to their resident district, according to Teshka.

“Their property taxes are funding a school system they don’t attend,” he argued in a written statement to The 74. “This is an important conversation to have.”

Public school advocates have decried the legislation.

“Rather than supporting schools and addressing critical issues like poverty and underfunding, House Bill 1136 would unfairly target districts based on student transfers,” wrote Keith Gambill, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association. 

“Indiana’s public schools are at the heart of our communities, and locally elected school boards play a vital role in ensuring accountability and responsiveness to the needs of students and families. House Bill 1136 would strip away that governance, replacing it with a state-appointed board and eroding the foundation of democracy in public education.” 

However, some school choice advocates disagree, pointing to the disparity between funding for traditional districts compared to charter schools. 

“They’re only educating 30% of the kids, and they’re getting 100% of the dollars,” said Robert Enlow, EdChoice president and CEO. “There’s a dramatic and systemic problem with districts who can’t even attract one out of two of their students.” 

For example, property taxes allowed IPS to spend $18,500 per student, while charters spent about $10,600, according to The 74. 

“In Indianapolis, less than 40% of students attend schools run by the district,” O’Donnell noted. “Enrollment fell by more than 900 students in the last year to about 20,000.” 

As the bill moves toward hearings in the house education committee, it’s helping some districts consider ways to improve academic success for all students, said State Rep. Robert Behning, who is chair the committee. 

“It is sending a message to several school districts that things have to change,” he said. “Status quo is not okay.”