The South Bend Community School Corporation is holding two community meetings today to discuss a possible innovation school within Washington High School.
Purdue University was granted a charter by the state to open a Purdue Polytechnic charter high school in South Bend. There are two Purdue Polytechnic high schools operating in Indianapolis.
What’s up for debate is whether or not Purdue will be an innovation school located within Washington High School as a STEM focused program.
An innovation school is a partnership between a public school district and a charter school. The charter population counts towards a district’s enrollment and test scores, in exchange the district provides some services; generally space, transportation or other overhead.
Advocates say it’s better to work with the charter than compete with it for South Bend’s students.
Many opponents distrust the charter school model. They also say the STEM program could take students away from the existing STEM magnet program at Riley High School.
The district is hosting two community meetings. One at 10 a.m. at the South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center and the other at 6 p.m. at Washington High School.