NAACP calls for changes to bill that shifts power from elected IPS board

The Greater Indianapolis NAACP is urging state lawmakers to add "safeguards" to legislation that would transfer significant financial and operational control of Indianapolis Public Schools to a new mayoral-appointed body.

The organization said House Bill 1423 shifts too much authority away from the nine-member elected IPS board without adequate protections for voters and taxpayers.

The bill, which is scheduled for a vote Wednesday in the House Education Committee, would create the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation. This new nine-member, mayor-appointed board would oversee property tax levies, transportation and building use for both IPS and charter schools. It would also manage the debt of the schools. 

The bill seeks to unify the city's fragmented education landscape, where the district and charter schools have long competed for resources. 

At a Jan. 12 hearing, some parents and leaders of charter schools spoke in support of the bill and how it would address transportation issues. Others, warned it would weaken the public's accountability power by allowing an appointed authority to set new tax levies instead of the elected IPS board.

Beyond governance changes, the legislation would mandate a single "performance framework" by the 2027-2028 school year that would set expectations for student academics and discipline practices for all schools. It also aims to resolve transportation disparities by requiring all charter schools within the IPS boundaries to join a unified bussing system.

"Our position is straightforward: IPS must remain a viable public school district — accountable to voters, governed by an elected board, and able to protect public schools, public buildings, and public dollars. Any new governance structure must strengthen, not weaken, public trust," the NAACP statement said.

While the legislation leaves the elected IPS board with oversight of academics and hiring of staff and teachers, the NAACP is calling for the board to have "meaningful involvement" in major decisions regarding school closures, funding and the management of taxpayer-funded buildings.

The organization also suggested that if lawmakers cannot guarantee these protections in the final bill, they should allow voters to weigh in through a public referendum.

"Major transitions without stability and guardrails risk increasing costs, disrupting neighborhoods, and undermining student success," the statement said.

The legislation follows the recommendations of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, a state-mandated task force chaired by Mayor Joe Hogsett that voted 8-1 last month to propose the creation of the new agency.

The House Education Committee is scheduled to meet 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The hearing can be livestreamed here. 

Eric Weddle is WFYI's education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.