DeLaney celebrates legal win for public education

On Monday, a Marion County judge ruled Indianapolis Public Schools could proceed with the sale of two closed school buildings. The proceeds will benefit IPS and students in both traditional public schools and charter schools. The ruling recognizes that Indiana’s $1 law as amended this year does not require IPS to sell vacant buildings to charters for $1 sales or leases under the 2018 referendum approved by voters. The ruling recognizes that IPS has provided referendum proceeds to those charters that cooperate with its program called innovation schools.  

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement regarding the ruling: 

“I'm glad that IPS and its students are getting the result the legislature intended to apply to the 2018 referendum. IPS will be able to sell the facilities. The revenue can then be used to improve student outcomes. A public asset will stay in transparent, public hands. Justice has sided with the democratic processes of public education. 

“The 2023 legislation undercuts the process IPS has been using. It would divert referendum proceeds to charter schools not cooperating with IPS. While our Attorney General in describing his attack on IPS relies on his baseless assumption that all charter schools are fine, the court rightly set such theories aside in this case.”