Indiana schools go virtual for teacher protests Monday. IPS stays open, drawing union backlash

The Metropolitan School District of Pike Township is one of at least two Indiana school districts moving to e-learning Monday, as teachers across the state plan to leave classrooms and converge on the Statehouse to demand greater funding for public schools and protest policy changes that could shift local dollars to charter schools.

Indianapolis Public Schools, which has been at the center of legislative debates, will remain open — a decision that has sparked backlash from the district’s teachers' union. The Indianapolis Education Association accuses IPS leadership of blocking time-off requests and discouraging staff from participating in the rally, known as the Indiana State Teachers Association’s Day of Action.

IPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday afternoon.

The event, organized by the state’s largest teachers' union, will bring educators together for advocacy inside the Statehouse. ISTA leaders say they are pushing for increased investment in K-12 education, stronger collective bargaining protections, and changes to the proposed state budget that would better support traditional public schools.

On Monday, some districts are closing buildings or moving to asynchronous learning because of high teacher absences. Pike Township Schools said 184 staff had already requested the day off as of Friday. Monroe County Community School Corp. will also move all K-12 students to independent e-learning for the day. Preschool programs and some special services will remain open in both districts.

Meanwhile, IPS declined a request for an e-learning day, according to the local union. In a message to members, the association said district officials prevented requests in the employee time-keeping system and sent “threatening emails” discouraging participation in the Day of Action.

“IPS senior management has chosen to stand in the way of educators rising up to defend our schools,” the union leader wrote. “They refused to close for Monday’s Day of Action, blocked time-off requests in Kronos, and sent out threatening emails discouraging using our contractual leave.”

Teachers at traditional school districts say they are frustrated with legislation from the GOP supermajority that will impact funding and other education policies. Senate Bill 1 would require districts to share voter-approved property tax funds with charter schools, even if they were not included in the original ballot proposal. 

IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson has said legislation could force IPS to close at least 20 schools and cut hundreds of positions. This week the district compromised with lawmakers in a plan to review how the district could partner with charter schools in the city.

School choice advocates want equal funding for all public school students, no matter what type of school they attend.

ISTA leaders say they support certain parts of the current Senate budget proposal, such as slowing the expansion of private school vouchers and reducing funding for virtual schools. But the union argues that the proposed 2 percent increases in tuition support are not enough to meet inflation or help schools compete for staff.

“At a time when Indiana is facing a growing teacher shortage, we need greater investments that support competitive pay and long-term retention,” ISTA said in a statement.

ISTA said it plans to continue pushing for changes until the legislative session ends later this month.

Contact WFYI education reporter Sydney Dauphinais covers Marion County schools. Contact at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.

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