Indiana Coalition for Public Education

When our state, Indiana, gets an "F" on a nationwide report card for its support for public schools and the federal government is dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, sending control down to the states, how confident are we that our students with special needs or those living in poverty or learning English will be served well? READ OUR BLOG POST.

https://indianacoalitionforpubliced.org/2026/06/22/who-will-protect-the-most-vulnerable-students/

Even in summer, magical things continue to happen in our public schools!

In Tennessee, but be aware. Indiana already allows a religious entity to authorize (not operate...yet) a charter school: Grace College and Seminary.

"This spring, lawmakers signed off on a new state law that now allows religious colleges and universities to operate public charter schools. Though the new law currently blocks those institutions from providing religious curriculum in their charter schools, it opens the door to a new class of charter operators in the state that could quickly stand up religious charters if the state's religious charter ban law were to fall."

Federal lawsuit over Tennessee religious charter school ban will move forward | Chattanooga Times Free Press A Tennessee lawsuit challenging the Knox County Board of Education over the state's religious charter school ban is heading to trial after a federal judge denied the board's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Defunding public schools is a choice by the General Assembly.

Record number of school referendums expected this fall An Axios Indianapolis analysis found nearly two dozen districts were at least considering a referendum.

Public schools are the heart of our communities and essential to the well-being of so many students.

"Now, the Indiana Coalition for Public Education is voicing its “grave concern” over the recent report and its findings. President Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer said Tuesday that Indiana has become a “national case study” in what happens when a state prioritizes privatization over public schools.

“While public schools remain responsible for serving every child who walks through their doors, state leaders continue to divert hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to private institutions that are not governed by locally elected school boards, and are not subject to the same transparency requirements,” Fuentes-Rohwer said in a statement."

‘Failing grade’: Indiana ranked 45th for public education support in new report (WXIN/WTTV) — A new report from the Network for Public Education gives Indiana leaders an “F” when it comes to supporting local public schools, ranking the state 45th overall. The NPE& #…

Magical things happen in our public schools every single day. Public schools are the heart of our communities.

"Indiana voters will likely see far more school referendums on the November ballot this year than in recent elections. School finance experts estimate 40 to 50 districts could ask voters to approve local property tax measures, driven by a series of changes to state law.

The biggest factor is Senate Enrolled Act 1, the property tax law Gov. Mike Braun signed in 2025. The law increases property tax deductions for homesteads, which means less property tax revenue will flow to school districts.

The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute estimates that districts in 2028 won’t receive a total of $338 million in previously projected funds because of the change in law.

Another change in state law now requires school referendum questions to appear only on the November general election ballot in even numbered years. That gives districts only one chance every two years to pass a referendum. Previously, districts could put a question on either the primary or general election ballot."

Why Indiana school districts are rushing to put tax referendums on the November ballot A wave of school referendums could hit Indiana ballots this November as districts seek voter support to offset funding losses tied to recent property tax changes.