HEA 1321 Summary

• Creates a new "Innovation Network Schools" program allowing Indianapolis Public Schools to establish new autonomous schools in vacant or underutilized buildings, either independently or in collaboration with high-performing charter school operators.

• Applies only to common school corporations located in the most populous township of a county with more than 700,000 residents that serve the largest geographical territory in the county.

• School management teams operating innovation network schools have full operational autonomy and are exempt from most Indiana statutes, state board rules, and local school corporation policies, though they must comply with anti-discrimination laws and certain curriculum and employment standards.

• Students living in the attendance area of an innovation network school have a right to attend and cannot be refused enrollment by the school.

• Charter schools may participate as "innovation network charter schools" within underutilized school buildings, with their performance results counted toward the school corporation's accountability metrics and receiving state funding including tuition support.