Title: Public school enrollment to become more equitable, efficient and transparent

Byline: Lewis Hubbard Group

Indiana is often lauded as a champion of school choice. Indianapolis, for example, offers families a multitude of opportunities to find the right schools for their children. Not only are there many vibrant private schools, there are now a wide array of public school options, including: traditional public schools, magnet schools, charter schools, and the Innovation Schools available to any family who wants to find the best match for their student.

While we uphold this choice as an opportunity for families to access quality options, the sad reality is that the process that has evolved for navigating this choice is complex and, at times, quality choices remain unattainable for families who need choice the most. Eleven school districts and more than 50 charter schools in Indianapolis have produced a complicated system of deadlines, applications and requirements that would leave any parents’ head spinning – let alone some of our most vulnerable families who are faced with daily challenges like keeping the lights on and food on the table. A 2015 study published by Teach Plus and The Institute for Innovation in Public School Choice noted that a lack of information, complex deadlines and limited transportation options were barriers to many families looking for schools.

The good news is that change is coming. A new non-profit organization, Enroll Indy, launched by a Mind Trust Education Entrepreneur Fellowship, is working with the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), the Mayor’s Office and the State Charter School Board to simplify and streamline the school application process for public school families. Its plan includes: a new school information source for parents to learn about their options, a robust effort to work directly with families on navigating the process, a streamlined application that includes both IPS and charter schools, a shared deadline across all schools and a much-needed window of transparency into school enrollment.

For nearly a year, stakeholders in both IPS and the charter sector have worked together on recommendations focused on making enrollment more efficient, equitable and transparent. As such, Enroll Indy is poised to launch a system that will dramatically improve access for all families.

This new system not only will make the enrollment process easier for all families, but it will provide robust data and information to our city as a whole. It will provide new information on the type of schools families want and where they want them, meaning districts and authorizers will be able to collaborate strategically to meet the needs of families, rather than starting schools with no information on the neighborhood’s needs or wants. This data also will enable us to ensure schools are behaving fairly and serving all students, not just those who are easiest to educate.

Too often, policymakers and legislators point to school choice as the proof that families have quality options and our system is working. Unfortunately, our current choice system is neither equitable nor transparent to families who need it the most. If we are going to claim to be a national leader on school choice, we need to ensure that means choice for all families—not just those with the ability to navigate a complex landscape.

We applaud IPS, Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Indiana Charter School Board, as well as the schools they represent, for doing this important work to bring equity, efficiency and transparency to the school enrollment system.

Sincerely,

Maggie A. Lewis

President, Indianapolis City-County Council

Al Hubbard

Chairman and Partner, E&A Companies

Sheila Akinleye

Math Teacher, Indiana Connections Academy

John Barth

Former Vice President, Indianapolis City-County Council

Miriam Acevedo Davis

President and CEO, La Plaza

John Hammond

Partner, Law Firm of Ice Miller

David Hampton

Deputy Mayor, Neighborhood Engagement, City of Indianapolis; Senior Pastor, Light of the World Christian Church

David Harris

Founder and CEO, The Mind Trust

Rose Mays

Professor Emerita, Indiana University School of Nursing

Rev. Kent Millard

Former Senior Pastor, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

Jeff Miller

District 16, Indianapolis City-County Council

Ann Murtlow

President and CEO, United Way of Central Indiana

Kameelah Shaheed-Diallo

Senior Vice President of Strategy and Community Engagement, The Mind Trust

Rob Smith

President, Eli Lilly and Company Foundation

Jeff Smulyan

Chairman, CEO, and Founder, Emmis Communications

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