The Right attacks the very existence of public education
For an example, just look at Chariho
Brett Wilkins for Common Dreams
Indiana's H.B. 1136—introduced
by Reps. Jake Teshka (R-7), Jeffrey Thompson (R-28), and Timothy O'Brien
(R-78)—would dissolve public school districts in which more than 50% of
students attend private or charter schools based on fall 2024 averages. All
remaining public schools in affected districts would be converted to charter
schools, which are privately owned and operated but taxpayer-funded.
According to Capital
B Gary, "The bill's provisions are estimated to dissolve five school
corporations statewide, including Indianapolis Public Schools, Tri-Township
Consolidated School Corporation in LaPorte County, Union School Corporation
southeast of Muncie, and Cannelton City Schools near the Kentucky border in
Perry County."
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) condemned the
proposal, saying it
"strongly opposes House Bill 1136 or any bill this legislative session
that threatens local authority and community control of public schools."
"H.B. 1136 proposes dissolving five school corporations, including IPS, by converting schools to charter status and eliminating local school boards," the district continued. "This harmful legislation would strip communities of their voice, destabilize our financial foundations, and further jeopardize the education of approximately 42,000 students."
IPS asserted: "H.B. 1136 threatens to cause massive
disruption to our public school system, diverting attention and resources away
from the vital education and support our students need to succeed. This
legislation is not student-focused and fails to reflect the community's input
on how they envision their public schools thriving."
"Instead of fostering growth and innovation, H.B. 1136
risks dismantling the very foundation that supports student success and
community collaboration," the district added.
The Indiana Democratic Party said on social media in response to the bill: "The GOP supermajority is continuing their attacks on local public schools. This time, they're threatening to dissolve dozens of schools across the state into charters, leaving around a million Hoosiers without a traditional public school option."
"For years, many public schools have struggled with
funds being diverted to charter schools with no accountability," the
party added in a
separate post. "Our public schools are the backbone of communities across
the state, and we must protect them. More charter schools means less oversight
for taxpayers."
Indiana state Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-46), a former IPS
teacher and principal, told Capital B Gary: "My children have
been attending IPS schools for 11 years. And I am so concerned about the fact
that in this place where the majority likes to say that they want choice for
families, that they would be threatening to take away choice from a family like
mine right here in the middle of our city."
"We've got to make sure that we stop this before it
goes any further," she added.
Indiana state Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-30), who also represents
Indianapolis, toldWXIN last
week, "I think this bill has a racial component by advancing
discriminatory policies that are targeting the two largest minority communities
in the state of Indiana."
"In my view," he added, "this piece of
legislation had nothing to do with choice and has everything to do to continue
to dismantle public education as we know it today in Indiana."
It's not just Indiana. Attacks on public education are
afoot in states across the nation, including neighboring Ohio and Kentucky.
At the national level, progressives are warning that the
imminent Republican trifecta—with GOP control of both chambers of Congress and,
later this month, the White House—likely portends a massive attack on public
education that could include ending the Department of Education,
as advised in
Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation-led blueprint for a far-right overhaul of
the federal government.
