The president of the Indiana Public Charter Schools Association says the state’s charters don't turn away disabled and homeless students. Russ Simnick issued that response to an allegation leveled by the head of Indianapolis Public Schools. IPS Superintendent Eugene White requested Monday wants the state to investigate enrollment practices at charter schools in that city. White contends some charters are dumping students on IPS after receiving state aid, claiming they can’t offer special education classes for the disabled or transportation for the homeless.He says 72 students have returned to IPS since the count date that determines state funding while 27 have left IPS for charters. Simnick says he's never heard a parent come forward with a claim that charter schools are denying students an education or services they need. He says in urban areas like Indianapolis, there's a lot of movement of students among all public schools, including charters, because people change jobs or addresses. An Indiana Department of Education spokesman says the state will look into White's claims. (Information for this story came from the Associated Press)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
