Five reasons why public dollars should stay with public school* students:

1. Public education is a constitutional right in Indiana. (Article 8, Sec. 1) “Knowledge and learning, generally diffused throughout a community, being essential to the preservation of a free government; it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to encourage, by all suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific, and agricultural improvement; and to provide, by law, for a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.”

2. Public schools are open to all. Public schools accept every child who walks through their doors–regardless of background or ability.

3. Public schools are transparent and accountable. Public schools are accountable to the communities they serve through democratically elected (in nearly all cases) board members who give voice to their constituents. Public schools are legally required to account for every dollar spent in a transparent way and are audited by the state board of accounts. All decisionmaking is done in public as required by law.

4. Public schools are the heart of the community. Public schools are where we come together from all walks of life to watch a football game on a Friday night, or see a school play. They are where children learn alongside people who are different than they are and they learn to respect and value those differences. It is where we find our common ground. In some communities, public schools are the main employer. Businesses and families seek strong public schools when considering a community. An investment in public schools is an investment in the future. Well educated citizens contribute to our society in meaningful ways, creating stability and wealth. Strong public schools create strong communities.

5. Public schools are the bedrock of our democracy. The purpose of public education is to create an informed citizenry equipped to participate in the democratic process and contribute to society in meaningful ways. In order to do this, students must learn critical thinking, understand democratic principles and civics, and be able to effectively communicate and problem-solve. In a pluralistic society, understanding and respecting our differences as people will further enable students to navigate their world. Public schools unite us.

*Our organization does not consider charters or “innovation schools” to be public schools, though they are called that in state law. Charters and “innovation schools” do not share the following accountability requirements with public school districts: 1) to serve all students within a given geographic area, 2) to be governed by a democratically elected local board (“innovation schools” are outsourced within districts, while charters appoint their own boards), and 3) to follow the full body of state education law, including teacher certification requirements and financial reporting requirements.