The Indiana legislature has made education a top priority in our city and state, leading many people to passionately advocate for their respective viewpoints. Regardless of one’s perspective, I appreciate the advocacy that I see in the city as bills continue to move forward that, if passed, will impact the future of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and charter schools.
Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with community members who have concerns about this legislation and charter schools in general. Everyone wants great public schools that educate students well and have the resources they need to do that. My hope is that as we continue to discuss these issues, our community can gain a better understanding of how charter schools operate, why families continue to choose them, and why they deserve the same funding as traditional district schools.
There are some who blame charter schools (or The Mind Trust) for the district’s financial challenges. The truth is that no one can force a family to enroll and stay enrolled in a certain school type.
“Indianapolis families and students have reshaped our public school environment. The education landscape is now more diverse with options that allow parents to choose schools that best meet their children’s needs.”
Despite the public narrative, The Mind Trust is a champion of IPS. However, our organization has never been satisfied with the status quo and will never blindly support an institution just because it is revered. The Mind Trust will always work to improve our city’s education system, even if that means standing up for change that others disagree with.
While I will always share the facts about our organization, my main focus remains on advocating for the students and families affected by this legislation. I know some believe that because charter schools operate in a different, yet highly accountable manner than traditional districts, they do not deserve the same level of resources.
I wholly disagree with that line of thinking because it disregards the families who have found that a charter or innovation school is the best fit for their child. There are more than 25,900 Indianapolis students who have chosen to attend a charter or innovation network school.
It also disregards the fact that charter schools are public, free, and open to any student who wants to enroll, just like traditional district schools. Indianapolis families and students have reshaped our public school environment. The education landscape is now more diverse, with options that allow parents to choose schools that best meet their children’s needs.
There is a real threat to IPS. However, it’s less about potential legislation and more about what realities IPS needs to address based on our current educational landscape. Here are the facts:
- The district repeatedly communicated that they face significant financial challenges and could reach a critical point within the next two years.
- Enrollment in district-run schools continues to decrease, with a significant drop this year. Charter school enrollment increased by 6%.
- 61% of all public school students within IPS boundaries attend a charter or innovation network school, with the majority being Black students.
- Charter schools are more diverse and serve more low-income students than IPS district-run schools: 66% of all Black public school students within IPS boundaries attend a charter or innovation network school. 72% of Indianapolis charter school students are low-income. Both figures are higher than the IPS district-run percentages for each group.
- Lawmakers have firmly committed to passing legislation aligning public school funding with enrollment trends. Given the supermajority, there are few obstacles to it moving forward.
IPS is facing serious financial issues that will outlast this legislative session. This current moment is the ideal time to work out solutions for funding, transportation, and facilities that can make Indianapolis’ education system a national model for other districts that face similar challenges.
Challenging the district is often seen as working against IPS and attempting to destroy it. I believe that challenging a system does not equate to working to dismantle it. In fact, we often challenge things we want to improve because we deeply care about them. That is how I feel about my personal advocacy and the voices of others who are supportive of SB 518. We want IPS to remain strong and stable, alongside other public school types.
I applaud anyone who is passionate enough about an issue to speak up and organize for it. For those who are organizing for IPS, my ask of you is to look at the facts and ensure you are fighting for the future, not the past.
Shannon Williams is the chief operating officer and executive vice president of The Mind Trust.
The author of this article states, “Despite the public narrative, The Mind Trust is a champion of IPS…,” a nice sentiment she may genuinely believe—despite the very different experience and assessment of many others. This kind of polite half honesty is possible only when you are shielded from the consequences of your actions. Well-intentioned or not, it is destructive. It is certainly not working together or championing.
She goes on to assert that her organization “will always work to improve our city’s education system” but supports this claim with incorrect, biased, or manipulated data. For example, she states that IPS has lost students. This is only true if one chooses to interpret the numbers in a way that fits a predetermined narrative. IPS closed several schools, and more than half of those students were encouraged to enroll in innovation partners. That is real partnership—unlike The Mind Trust’s approach.
Since Oct 1 and Feb 1, IPS has actually gained students—many counseled out of charter schools—resulting in a net increase from last year. Assuming the author is an honest person, she must be unaware of this fact.
The Mind Trust’s narrative is like to an abusive spouse saying, “Despite your experience and the overwhelming evidence of harm, you’re not actually suffering—because I insist I love you.”
The Mind Trust is not merely advocating for equitable charter funding—a straightforward argument to make. Instead, it has long positioned itself as the authority on education, despite lacking the experience or expertise to justify such control. For over a decade, it has not acted as a partner but as a manipulator, escalating toward dominance. “Equitable funding” is simply a tool for misleading its charter allies and setting the stage for its ultimate agenda.
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