Two out of five school board seats are up for the November election in the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township.

This year’s race for the Indianapolis Public Schools board has the fewest number of candidates in at least the past 10 years. Is money from political action committees a factor?

The measure, HB 1130, is a response to a small number of school boards over the past year who refused to allow public comment, amid anger and even threats of violence that bubbled up at school boards across the country.

Organized efforts to prevent certain policy changes in schools have disrupted school board meetings across the country, and educators and school officials are calling for more civility in places where it's happening in Indiana.

Local school board members are on the frontline of what is a health crisis at its core. Some school board members and superintendents across the state speak of a tough spot they’re put in. Some convey a message of confidence that things will be under control soon but others question why public health officials are not making these decisions in the middle of a resurging global pandemic.

Racial equity issues have been an afterthought -- if mentioned at all -- in most Indiana school board races in past years. But after this summers social justice protests, students and communities are demanding school boards address systemic racism and a wide range of connected issues.

Political groups are pouring big money into school board campaigns in Indiana this year. These hotly contested elections help shape the future of education, but school boards make decisions that have a wide impact on their local communities.

The consideration of the policy sparked public outcry and death threats towards school board members.

Teachers say the Red for Ed rally comes as a final push for additional funding during the last week of the legislative session.

After the review, the IPS school board may choose to restart or close these schools.