As Indiana prepares for a statewide Day of Action on April 14, tensions have escalated between Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) leadership and the Indianapolis Education Association (IEA).

The union says district officials have blocked time-off requests, denied personal day usage, and sent emails discouraging staff from participating in the event which the IEA calls violations of the district’s labor contract.

The IEA is encouraging educators to assert their rights to use personal or sick days to attend Monday’s rally at the Indiana Statehouse. Organizers point to language in the collective bargaining agreement that allows personal days to be used at a teacher’s discretion and without explanation. They’ve advised members to document any denials and are prepared to file grievances for each reported contract violation.

The April 14 rally, organized by the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), aims to draw attention to legislation that educators say could significantly impact public schools, including Senate Bills 1 and 373. Teachers plan to advocate for full school funding and greater inclusion of educators in policymaking. While some districts across the state have closed to allow staff and students to attend, IPS has opted to remain open. In the past IPS has cancelled classes for such days like in 2019.