A new bill would effectively disband the state’s largest school districts in favor of charters.

House Bill 1136, introduced by Rep. Jake Teshka (R-District 7 i), proposes dissolving any school district where more than half of the students attend schools not operated by said district. That includes charter and private schools.

At this moment, that only applies to a couple of rural and urban school distircts. This includes Cannelton City schools. Gary Community Schools, Tri-Township Schools, Union School Corporation, and the state’s largest school district Indianapolis Public Schools.

In a statement to the media Teshka said that funding is at the heart of the bill.

“This bill would only apply to school districts where more than half of the students and families living within the school district’s boundaries are choosing to attend other schools, meaning their property taxes are funding a school system they don’t attend,” said Teshka in an statement. “This is an important conversation to have, and I look forward to hearing from parents, educators, administrators and other stakeholders on the best path forward to ensure every Hoosier student receives a quality education.”

IPS released the following statement in repsponse to the bill:

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) strongly opposes House Bill 1136 or any bill this legislative session that threatens local authority and community control of public schools. HB 1136 proposes dissolving five school corporations, including IPS, by converting schools to charter status and eliminating local school boards. This harmful legislation would strip communities of their voice, destabilize our financial foundations, and further jeopardize the education of approximately 42,000 students. 

If passed, the affected districts would transition to charter status by July 1, 2028, with low-performing schools making the switch first.