Indiana Charter Schools Kick Kids Out and Keep The Money?

Question

Is it true that the Indiana school system's charter schools can accept money but then kick the kids out? My father, who is a unionized teacher in the state, tells me that the private charter schools take the state money in August but can then keep the money, kick the kids out in September, and then the public schools have to take the kids without funding because the charter school keeps the money. Is this true?

Answer 1

Charter Schools in Indiana are public schools. These schools can only be granted a charter in locations where the local public schools are significantly under performing. The Charter Schools receive tax money based on the student population enrolled in mid-September on count day that same as all public schools in Indiana. In contrast to the traditional public schools, Charter Schools receive only 60% the assessed tax funding - they do not receive any funding for building&grounds, or transportation like the traditional public schools do. This difference in funding forces Charter Schools to be much more  accountable for the funds it does receive. Charter Schools must follow the same state and federal education regulations as any other public school. Charter Schools are much more closely monitored for student academic performance, student entrance/withdrawal, suspensions/expulsions because of their charters. Given the proper circumstances, any school can expel a student. If this expulsion happens after the student count day the school the student that was expelled still retains in the funding - traditional public school and charter public alike. For additional information on Indiana charter Schools visit the Indiana Department of Education website and click on the charter school link.  (http://ideanet.doe.state.in.us/)