IPS Shares Key Focus Areas for the 2025 Legislative Session

INDIANAPOLIS — On Tuesday, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) unveiled its comprehensive legislative agenda for 2025, outlining key priorities designed to bolster public education and improve student outcomes across the state.

"One of the first tasks I was given was to connect with IPS leadership and start asking questions about what is it that we wish to see happen at the Statehouse, what barriers are we seeing for the people who are real boots-on-the-ground educators," said Dr. Rachel Santos, the director of external affairs for IPS.

The priorities set forth by IPS for the 2025 General Assembly, commencing on January 13, center around critical issues such as education funding reform, student health initiatives, post-secondary accessibility, workforce development, and literacy support. Additionally, there is a focus on revising the Complexity Index to better address the needs of English Language Learners (ELL) and special education programs.

“Our legislative priorities come at a critical juncture for K-12 education,” stated IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson. “As we continue implementation of the Rebuilding Stronger initiative—transforming educational experiences for our 31,000 students—we view these priorities as essential steps to ensure student success not only in IPS but throughout Indianapolis and beyond. The 2025 legislative session presents a vital opportunity to advance this vision and ensure all students have access to quality education and support.”

Key highlights from the district’s 2025 legislative agenda include:

• Support Early Learning Programs: Expand access to quality Pre-K education by raising income eligibility limits for financial assistance programs and increasing award amounts.
• Enhanced Support for Diverse Student Needs: Update funding formulas to better assist students learning English and those with special education needs.
• Student Health Checkups: Mandate basic health screenings upon entry into kindergarten, middle school, and high school to identify health issues early on.
• College Affordability: Allow Indiana high school graduates—including undocumented students—to pay in-state tuition rates at Indiana colleges, making higher education more accessible.
• Growing the Teacher Pipeline: Expand state job training grants to include teaching certificates while recognizing work experience as college credit to encourage more individuals to pursue teaching careers in Indiana.
• Reading Success for All: Provide schools with greater flexibility in assisting struggling readers through additional testing opportunities and adjusted advancement requirements based on language progress.

"How we identified them was really focused on what we believe can gain broad coalition support while fostering collaboration within our district," said Santos. One of their main pushes is for increased funding for Pre-K programs.

"We believe that current income levels do not adequately meet state needs amidst rising living costs; this is a rational argument we intend to present to legislators," added Santos.

Parents have expressed gratitude towards IPS's prioritization of these issues but still have lingering questions.
"What specifically are we going to do with these six things in a perfect world?" asked Erica Hahn, an IPS parent.

Regarding diverse student needs, Hahn noted confusion over language used in describing adjustments to funding formulas for English language learners and special education programs.
"It doesn’t feel like an intentional word," she remarked. "Especially with a child with special needs; I think there should be clear funding provisions."

The district recognizes that its current funding formula is outdated. Over recent months, IPS has held 11 meetings with legislators and will continue advocating for its priorities leading up to the session's commencement in January.

Key Focus Areas for the 2025 Legislative Session

The upcoming 2025 legislative session is set to address several critical issues that will shape the direction of our policies and governance. It is essential for stakeholders to stay informed and engaged as these discussions unfold.