The $1 Law in Indiana: Challenges and Opportunities
Let me start by saying I’m not an expert in writing laws, running schools, or much else. I’m a philosopher by training, a school leader at heart, and right now, I lead cybersecurity strategy for a big public school district. I’ve also been a camp counselor, teacher, assistant principal, principal, and even a part-time philosophy professor before becoming Director of IT Operations. What’s unique about me is that I’ve worked in all levels of education—from kindergarten to college. I’ve worked in public, private, and charter schools. My time in the IPS Innovation Network has given me a close look at the challenges schools face, especially when it comes to Indiana’s $1 law. This blog reflects my personal thoughts as a philosopher at my core.
Why Comment on the $1 Law?
So, who am I to comment on the debate about Indiana’s $1 law? I’m just someone trying to make sense of its flaws.
The discussion around this law often turns into a ‘false dichotomy,’ which means people tend to see only two sides:
The $1 law helps charter schools deal with funding challenges.
The $1 law hurts traditional public schools.
(For the record, I’m not picking a side here. As a philosopher, I’m more interested in exploring the issue than in being ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’)
(If you’re not familiar with this topic, Chalkbeat Indiana has two great articles about the latest updates to the $1 law. Check them out: Chalkbeat Indiana)
The Flaws in the $1 Law Arguments
Argument 1: Charter Schools Need Help with Funding
Here’s the problem with this argument: Most charter schools don’t have to enroll students from a specific area. This makes it hard to fairly distribute property tax dollars, which are used to fund school buildings. Traditional public schools, on the other hand, serve students from specific neighborhoods, so their funding system is different.
Argument 2: The $1 Law Hurts Public Schools
And here’s the issue with this argument: The $1 law doesn’t technically take anything away from public school districts—at least not on paper.
The Real Problem
Over time, the enforcement of this law has been inconsistent, and the rules keep changing. One major flaw in the $1 law is that it doesn’t require charter schools leasing a district building for $1 a year to handle basic upkeep and maintenance. This is a big deal because school districts are responsible for maintaining the buildings, not just the land they’re on.
Finding a Solution
How do we fix this? There’s no quick solution. The Indiana Legislature has a history of writing laws that are unclear and then tweaking them based on pressure from outside groups. So far, the $1 law has mostly been enforced in the Indianapolis area.
I think we need open and honest conversations between all the stakeholders to figure out how to improve this law. The goal should be to make changes that work for both public school districts and charter schools. This might sound ambitious, but I believe that with better dialogue, both sides can move past the negativity. After all, everyone involved wants to use taxpayer money wisely and improve education for Indianapolis students.
