charter schools

A last-minute change to a bill at the Statehouse in the days before the 2020 legislative session came to an end opens the door for charter schools to receive property tax funding through referendum measures. Lawmakers approved the multi-purpose bill on the last day of session after more than an hour debating the language.

Lawmakers created an avenue for charter schools to access referendum funding Monday, with a sudden change to legislation in the Senate that worries public education advocates.

Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger) offered a proposal to a bill this week to let school corporations partner with charter schools to split referendum funding. Indiana law already says if school boards approve, school corporations can share some of their operations funding with local charter schools.

Community education advocates gathered Saturday to discuss the Purdue Polytechnic Charter High School coming to South Bend.

Purdue 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 partner with South Bend Community Schools to make the charter an innovation school that would operate within Washington High School as a STEM focused program.

The South Bend Community School Corporation held a listening forum yesterday where residents had an opportunity to give feedback to school leaders about the proposed Focus 2018 school plan.