According to a report from WFYI, Indiana lawmakers are considering a bill that could dissolve five public school districts, including Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), the state’s largest. House Bill 1136, introduced by Rep. Jake Teshka (R-North Liberty), proposes converting struggling schools into charter schools in districts where more than half of students attend schools outside district boundaries.

The bill would impact IPS, Gary Community Schools, Union Schools near Muncie, Tri-Township Consolidated Schools in LaPorte County, and Cannelton City Schools in Perry County. If passed, the process to dissolve these districts would begin in July 2025, with 68 schools converted to charters by 2028. Schools with the lowest state test scores would transition first.

In Indianapolis, about 62% of students living within IPS boundaries attend other schools, such as charters or private institutions. Despite enrollment initiatives and partnerships with charter schools, IPS has seen its student numbers drop from 37,500 in 2006 to 31,300 today. Similarly, Gary and Union Schools have struggled with declining enrollment, with less than 40% of local students attending their district schools.

Under the bill, traditional school boards would be replaced by appointed governing bodies, and collective bargaining agreements would be eliminated. Proponents argue the measure ensures better education options for students in underperforming districts.

“This bill addresses governance in districts where families are choosing alternatives, ensuring better outcomes for students,” said Teshka. Critics, including the Indiana Urban Schools Association and state teachers’ unions, warn the bill undermines local control and destabilizes communities. “Parents still choose public schools, and this upheaval goes against Indiana’s emphasis on choice,” said David Marcotte of the Indiana Urban Schools Association.

The proposal, set to be debated in the 2025 legislative session, has sparked significant debate about the future of public education in Indiana.

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