14 charter schools up for renewal this week in Indianapolis, across state

Fourteen charter schools in Indianapolis and across the state will be considered for renewal this week.

The Indiana Charter School Board and the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation, which authorize charter schools, will hold hearings to evaluate whether each school can continue operating based on factors such as academic achievement, enrollment, and financial stability.

In 2023, legislators extended the maximum charter renewal term from seven years to 15 years.

The schools up for renewal include three operated by KIPP Indy, three Phalen Leadership Academies schools, two adult high schools, and one of the state’s oldest charters, Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools managed privately by nonprofit boards rather than elected officials. These boards operate under contracts granted by one of several authorizers in Indiana.

The public can comment at each meeting. The state board will decide on each renewal during the meeting. The mayor's board will announce a decision on each renewal in the weeks after the hearings.
 

Indianapolis Mayor's Office of Education Innovation

Tuesday, Dec. 10
Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School
Southeast Neighborhood School of Excellence (SENSE)

Wednesday, Dec. 11
KIPP Unite Elementary
KIPP Indy College Prep Middle
KIPP Legacy High
Damar Charter Academy
Matchbook Learning

Both meetings are at 6 p.m. at the City-County Building in Room 260, 200 East Washington St. A livestream will be available on Channel 16. The renewal applications are available on the authorizer’s website.
 

The Indiana Charter School Board

Thursday, Dec. 12
The Excel Center - Noblesville
The Excel Center - South Bend
GEO Next Generation Academy - Indianapolis
James and Rosemary Phalen High School - Indianapolis
Phalen Leadership Academy at Francis Scott Key School 103 - Indianapolis
Phalen Leadership Academy at Louis B. Russell Jr. School 48 - Indianapolis
Purdue Polytechnic High School - South Bend

The meeting is at 9:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. at the Indiana Government Center South, Conference Room 4-5, 302 W. Washington St. Indianapolis. The renewal applications are available on the authorizer’s website.

Eric Weddle is WFYI's education team editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow on X at @ericweddle.