IPS requests charter schools probe

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indianapolis Public Schools is taking aim at charter schools within its district borders, saying the schools have turned away homeless and disabled students.

IPS officials said Monday they are calling for an investigation into the charter schools.

IPS Superintendent Eugene White said in a letter to Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, that six students this school year returned to IPS because their charter schools would not meet their special education needs. Another five students, White says, were not served by their charter schools because they’re homeless.

READ| We've uploaded a copy of White's letter

White accuses the charter schools of enrolling students and then dumping them to nearby IPS schools after the state’s annual headcount day. That day’s enrollment number is used to calculate the amount of funding a school receives from the state. This school year, White said 72 students from charter schools returned to IPS since Sept. 19. Comparatively, 27 students left IPS for charter schools.

If White’s allegations are true, the charter schools could be violating two federal regulations — the Mckinney-Vento Act that protects the rights of homeless students, and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.

“IPS respectfully requests an investigation be opened into the enrollment practices of all charter schools operating within the IPS boundaries, with particular attention applied to Christel House, Fall Creek Academy, Fountain Square, Herron, Hoosier Academy, Imagine Life Sciences Academy East, Imagine Life Sciences Academy West, Lighthouse, SENSE and Tindley,” White said in his letter to Bennett.

The request for an investigation comes just days after White took heat for a comment he made on a WIBC-FM show. Incidentally, the interview was about the challenges public schools face in comparison to charter schools, and about graduation rates.

“You’ve got to understand, we are public schools,” White said in the WIBC-FM interview. “What does that mean? We take everybody that comes through the door, whether they are blind, crippled, crazy.”

The comment made some parents angry and prompted a public apology from the superintendent.

It’s unclear what, if anything, the Indiana Department of Education will do with White’s request for an inquiry into the schools.

Charter schools are operated throughout the state. They are independent public schools operating with charters granted by universities, mayors or school corporations.

Indiana Department of Education spokesman Alex Damron issued a statement saying the DOE would look over White's claims.

"The department will take the time necessary to carefully review the information provided by Indianapolis Public Schools. It's too early at this point to validate or invalidate the specific claims within Dr. White's letter. As always, the DOE will put students first in getting to the bottom of this issue,” he said.