How Charter Schools Are Present On The Ballot

October 28, 2014 | 5:22 PM

By Claire McInerny

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In the circle of school choice supporters nationwide, Indiana is known as a place with pro school choice laws and expansive options. But as charter schools expanded throughout the state and more school voucher money became available, so did controversy.

Now, charter schools are becoming a political platform for candidates in the state.

Indianapolis as a case study

Let’s first look at the Indianapolis Public Schools school board race in which ten candidates are running for three open spots on the board.

Indianapolis has one of the largest populations of charter schools in the state, with 40 residing within city limits. Because charter schools receive state funding just like public schools, the funding of charter schools within IPS’ district will be a relevant issue for those elected.

This emphasis on how charters will interact with IPS schools is evident in the candidates’ campaign financial filings. Charter advocates and PACs donated to multiple candidates. Christel DeHaan (founder of Christel House Academy of Tony Bennett scandal fame) donated $3,000 to David Hampton and $2,000 to Mary Ann Sullivan who are both running for the at-large position.

Charter advocacy groups based on the East Coast

including Democrats for Education Reform, Education Reform Now and Leadership for Educational Equity donated a collective $13,200 to the candidates.

So that’s $18,200 of charter school supporter money funneled into a public school board race.

Charters advocates are funding General Assembly candidates

Republicans running for the General Assembly are seeing an influx in donations the last few weeks from Hoosiers for Quality Education, the new PAC name for Hoosiers for Economic Growth and parent organization to the Institute for Quality Education. The group is an Indiana based pro school choice advocacy group, and in the state senate race alone, HQE donated around $107,500 to Republican candidates.

Democrats are receiving education-related donations as well, but not from charter school advocates. We’ll look at that money later in the week.

The topic of charter schools is now ammunition for the debates between Republicans and Democrats in the state. In a statement back in July, Democrat Jeff Sparks who is running for state representative in District 62, blasted Republicans for their forgiveness of $91,000,000 in charter school debt.

Julie Berry, a Democrat running for state senate in District 45, has made education the flagship issue of her campaign. She writes on her campaign website that improving the state’s public schools are her priority if elected.

“Public schools are struggling in southern Indiana, and throughout the state, with fluctuating budgets, due in part to vouchers and charter schools,” Berry writes. “The majority of Indiana’s students will remain in public schools and it is our duty to maintain and improve Indiana’s public school system.”

Sparks and Berry are just two examples of candidates discussing charter schools in their campaigns, and it’s clear the subject is a polarized issues, with Republicans in the state supporting school choice and Democrats opposing it.