Indianapolis Takeover Schools Could Become Charter Schools
Two Indianapolis high schools under state intervention could become charter schools instead of facing closure, the State Board of Education decided Wednesday, despite concerns raised by Indianapolis Public Schools.
Eight years ago, the board made the controversial decision to sever Thomas Carr Howe and Emmerich Manual high schools from IPS after years of chronic academic failure. The state hired Charter Schools USA, a Florida-based private company known as CSUSA, to manage the schools.
On Wednesday, the board ordered CSUSA to seek charters to independently run the schools when its status as takeover schools ends in mid-2020.
But Aleesia Johnson, IPS interim superintendent, warned that complicated financial issues with the Howe and Manual buildings could negatively impact the district. An attempt to delay Wednesday’s vote by a month was shot down.
Law allows the buildings, following the end of state intervention, to be turned over to a charter organizer in a sale for $1. IPS is worried it could be left to shoulder years of bond debt on the buildings.
David Freitas, a state board member, urged the board to vote and let attorneys figure out any concerns with the buildings’ debt. He described the takeover as a “success story” and said CSUA should be free to seek its charter authorization.
“It is an amazing transformation. Moving schools from F to a C … is only part of the story,” Freitas said referencing the state’s A-F accountability scale grade for the schools. “The key part of this story is the culture change in the schools.”
Manual has been rated a C for two consecutive years. Howe remains rated F since the takeover began in 2012 yet school leaders say it’s expected to earn a higher grade next year due to a record graduation rate and student growth score on state tests.
Emma Donnan Middle School, a third school was also taken over but not part of Wednesday’s vote, jumped from F to C for the first time last year.
A task force created by the state board sought input from community members about the future of the schools. Through a series of meetings and online votes, the task force recommended the charter conversion — one of four options laid out in state law.
Now the board is ordering Charter Schools USA, or CSUSA, to seek approval from an Indiana charter authorizer to run the schools free of intervention starting in mid-2020.
Emma Donnan Middle School, is on course to become part of the IPS district as an “innovation school” in mid-2020 and remain under CSUSA management.
Letters of intent for the charters has been filed with the Indiana Charter Schools Board. The board said an application was expected to be fled following Wednesday’s vote by the state education board.
The Indiana Charter Schools Board is scheduled to meet March 12. The board would determine if there is an adequate academic and financial plan to operate Howe and Manual.