• Write to your legislators, the Mayor and the Governor. Let them know about the good things happening in your school(s). Tell them how happy you are with the programs that your son/daughter/grandchildren/nieces/nephews/neighbors are participating in, and that you don't want to see these programs eliminated. NOTE: E-mails are ok, but old-fashioned letters are better!
• Talk to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, church congregations, neighborhood associations and extended families. Let them know what could happend and encourage them to write their legislators, etc.
• Watch for information about a possible Rally at the Statehouse later in June and make plans to attend and bring at least one other person with you!
  

Who?

• All IPS Parents, Students, Teachers, Neighbors, Families and Supporters
• Anyone who understands that in order to be a great city, Indianapolis must have great schools.
• Anyone who lives in Indiana, supports their public schools and doesn't want to see similar cuts come to their budgets.
  

Why?

• The legislature will be approving a new state budget during a special session in June. The most recent proposal included the potential of $47 million to nearly $77 million in cuts to the IPS budget.  
• Cuts of this amount would result in closing more schools, laying off more teachers, eliminating music and art and eliminating successful magnet programs.
• Cuts of this amount would undo all of the progress that IPS has made over the last several years, and would make it difficult to provide an appropriate education to the students who remain.
• Because of the elimination of popular and successful programs, families would move out of the IPS district. This would be detrimental to a city that is already struggling with high foreclosure rates.
• Under the most recent proposal, IPS and Gary took the biggest hit but it is possible that the Governor's proposal, which is due out on June 2nd, will include even more cuts to these districts and similar cuts to all other districts around the state, which would be devastating to public education statewide. That would not be helpful in recruiting new businesses and jobs to our state!
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do schools get money from the Indiana Lottery?

A: No, money from the Indiana Lottery does not support education.  That’s a common misconception. 

Q: Isn’t IPS getting money from the federal stimulus package?  Will that make up for the cuts?  Can’t you save teachers’ jobs with that money?

A: IPS is grateful that it is projected to receive $23.4 million in Title I funding and $10.3 million in special education funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  However, their funds may not be used as replacement funding for cuts in state and local funding.  The ARRA funds are subject to strict federal requirements.  They must be used to implement Title I and special education programs.  By law these dollars must be directed toward specific, one-time expenditures aimed at helping children with disabilities and children who live in poverty.

Q: Could IPS use the money for school renovations and spend that on classroom expenses or teacher salaries?

A: No.  Many different laws affect school spending.  Funds for transportation must be spent on that.  Funds from the bond program must go for buildings.  Special education and preschool monies must be spent in those areas.  The general fund that pays teachers and operating expenses is the one the state assumed responsibility for beginning in 2009, and that’s one fund where IPS could see large cuts.  Similarly, the Capital Projects Fund (CPF) which is set up for buildings and maintenance, could see reductions from the property tax caps.  In recent years, the General Assembly has allowed and encouraged school districts to use CPF funds for technology, utilities and other expenditures, so there’s not as much in that fund to replace roofs and boilers and do other major maintenance projects.