Ind. Code ch. 20-24-3

Ind. Code ch. 20-24-3
in effect

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-1 Authorizer may grant charter

Sec. 1. An authorizer may grant a charter to an organizer to operate a charter school under this article. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-1.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.20.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-2 Authorization of charter to nonprofit entities

Sec. 2. (a) An authorizer may not grant a charter to a for-profit entity. (b) If an organizer has not received a determination by the Internal Revenue Service of its tax exempt status as of the date the organizer is scheduled to provide instruction to students attending the charter school, the organizer must request and receive express written authorization from the authorizer that the organizer may provide instruction to students attending the charter school pending such determination. (c) The organizer shall immediately inform the authorizer if the organizer's tax exempt status is questioned, modified, or revoked by the Internal Revenue Service or if the organizer's nonprofit corporation status is questioned, modified, or revoked by the state. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-2.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.21; P.L.250-2017, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-2.5 Contracting with education service providers

Sec. 2.5. If a proposed charter school intends to contract with an education service provider for substantial educational services, management services, or both educational services and management services, the request for proposals shall require the applicants to provide the following: (1) Evidence of the education service provider's success in serving student populations similar to the targeted populations, including demonstrated academic achievement as well as successful management of nonacademic school functions, if applicable. (2) A term sheet setting forth: (A) the proposed duration of the service contract; (B) the roles and responsibilities of the organizer, the school staff, and the education service provider; (C) the performance evaluation measures and timelines; (D) the compensation structure, including clear identification of all fees to be paid to the education service provider; (E) the methods of contract oversight and enforcement; (F) the investment disclosure; (G) that the school and the authorizer are entitled to any data directly related to the operation or management of the school, such as financial data, enrollment data, demographic data, performance data, and student data, in the possession of the education service provider, but may not include any proprietary, intellectual property, or similarly protected data of the education service provider; and (H) the conditions for renewal and termination of the contract. (3) A disclosure statement to explain any existing or potential conflicts of interest between the organizer and the proposed education service provider or any affiliated business entities. (4) Assurance that the organizer will be structurally independent of the education service provider and shall set and approve school policies. The assurance must also provide that the terms of the service contract must be reached by the organizer and the education service provider through arms length negotiations in which the organizer must be represented by legal counsel. The legal counsel may not also represent the education service provider. As added by P.L.280-2013, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.250-2017, SEC.10.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-3 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-3.1.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.23; P.L.127-2016, SEC.11. Repealed by P.L.214-2025, SEC.53.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-4 Proposal to establish charter school; required contents

Sec. 4. (a) An organizer may submit to the authorizer a proposal to establish a charter school. (b) A proposal must contain at least the following information: (1) Identification of the organizer. (2) A description of the organizer's organizational structure and governance plan. (3) The following information for the proposed charter school: (A) Name. (B) Purposes. (C) Governance structure. (D) Management structure. (E) Educational mission goals. (F) Curriculum and instructional methods. (G) Methods of pupil assessment. (H) Admission policy and criteria, subject to IC 20-24-5. (I) School calendar. (J) Age or grade range of students to be enrolled. (K) A description of staff responsibilities. (L) A description of the physical plant. (M) Budget and financial plans. (N) Personnel plan, including methods for selection, retention, and compensation of employees. (O) Transportation plan. (P) Discipline program, subject to IC 20-24-5.5. (Q) Plan for compliance with any applicable desegregation order. (R) The date when the charter school is expected to: (i) begin school operations; and (ii) have students attending the charter school. (S) The arrangement for providing teachers and other staff with health insurance, retirement benefits, liability insurance, and other benefits. (T) Any other applications submitted to an authorizer in the previous five (5) years. (4) The manner in which the authorizer must conduct an annual audit of the program operations of the charter school. (c) In the case of a charter school proposal from an applicant that currently operates one (1) or more charter schools in any state or nation, the request for proposals shall additionally require the applicant to provide evidence of past performance and current capacity for growth. (d) If the proposal described in subsection (a) concerns an existing charter school overseen by a different authorizer than the authorizer to which the organizer is submitting the proposal, the authorizer receiving the proposal shall consult with the current authorizer before granting approval of the proposal. (e) This section does not waive, limit, or modify the provisions of: (1) IC 20-29 in a charter school where the teachers have chosen to organize under IC 20-29; or (2) an existing collective bargaining agreement for noncertificated employees (as defined in IC 20-29-2-11). [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-3.2.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.91-2011, SEC.9; P.L.280-2013, SEC.24; P.L.221-2015, SEC.6; P.L.179-2016, SEC.2; P.L.250-2017, SEC.11; P.L.214-2025, SEC.54.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-4.5 Use of nationally recognized principles and standards for authorizing

Sec. 4.5. In reviewing and evaluating charter applications, an authorizer shall employ procedures, practices, and criteria consistent with nationally recognized principles and standards for quality charter authorizing. The application review process must include thorough evaluation of each written charter application and an in-person interview with the applicant group. As added by P.L.221-2015, SEC.7.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-5 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-4.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Repealed by P.L.280-2013, SEC.25.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-5.5 Public hearing by authorizer

Sec. 5.5. (a) This section applies to an authorizer that is not the executive of a consolidated city. (b) Before issuing a charter, the authorizer must conduct a public hearing concerning the establishment of the proposed charter school. The public hearing must be held within the school corporation where the proposed charter school would be located. If the location of the proposed charter school has not been identified, the public hearing must be held within the county where the proposed charter school would be located. At the public hearing, the governing body of the school corporation in which the proposed charter school will be located must be given an opportunity to comment on the effect of the proposed charter school on the school corporation, including any foreseen negative impacts on the school corporation. As added by P.L.91-2011, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.26; P.L.221-2015, SEC.8; P.L.127-2016, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-6 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-5.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Repealed by P.L.214-2025, SEC.55.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-7 Revocation of charter

Sec. 7. The authorizer may revoke the charter of a charter school that does not, by the date specified in the charter: (1) begin school operations; and (2) have students attending the charter school. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-6.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.27.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-8 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-7.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Repealed by P.L.280-2013, SEC.28.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-9 Notification of acceptance or rejection of proposal

Sec. 9. (a) Subject to subsection (b), an authorizer must notify an organizer that submits a proposal under section 4 of this chapter of the: (1) acceptance of the proposal; or (2) rejection of the proposal; not later than seventy-five (75) days after the organizer submits the proposal, unless the authorizer and organizer mutually agree in writing to an extension. (b) If an authorizer and an organizer mutually agree in writing to an extension under subsection (a), the extension may be for not more than fifteen (15) days. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-8.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.169-2005, SEC.13; P.L.280-2013, SEC.29; P.L.250-2017, SEC.12.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-10 Authorizer's notification of department; annual report by department

Sec. 10. (a) An authorizer must notify the department of the: (1) acceptance of a proposal; and (2) length of time for which a charter is granted. (b) The authorizer shall annually do the following: (1) Compile the following information into a report: (A) Proposals received. (B) Proposals accepted, including the length of time for which a charter is granted. (C) Proposals rejected, including the reasons for the rejection. (D) School goals, educational program design, and the name and address of the education management organization operating the school and the name of the chief operating officer of the education management organization, if applicable. (2) Submit the report in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 to the legislative council. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-9.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.91-2011, SEC.11; P.L.280-2013, SEC.30; P.L.250-2017, SEC.13.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-11 Rejection of proposal; amendment or submission to another authorizer; appeal

Sec. 11. If an authorizer rejects a charter school proposal, the organizer may: (1) amend the charter school proposal and resubmit the proposal to the same authorizer; or (2) submit a charter school proposal to another authorizer. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-10.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.31; P.L.250-2017, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-12 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-11.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.32. Repealed by P.L.250-2017, SEC.15.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-13 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-12.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Repealed by P.L.91-2011, SEC.31.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-14 State educational institution authorizers

Sec. 14. (a) This section applies to state educational institutions described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(2). (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the ultimate responsibility for choosing to authorize a charter school and responsibilities for maintaining authorization rest with the university's board of trustees. (c) The university's board of trustees shall assign authorization authority and authorization responsibilities to another entity that functions under the direction of the university's board. A decision made under this subsection shall be communicated in writing to the department. (d) An entity created under subsection (c) is subject to IC 5-14-1.5 and IC 5-14-3. (e) Before a university may authorize a charter school, the university must conduct a public meeting with public notice in the school corporation where the charter school will be located. If the location of the proposed charter school has not been identified, the public hearing must be held within the county where the proposed charter school would be located. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-13.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.33; P.L.127-2016, SEC.13; P.L.250-2017, SEC.16.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-14.1 Nonprofit college and university authorizers

Sec. 14.1. (a) This section applies to nonprofit colleges and universities described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(5). (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the ultimate responsibility for choosing to authorize and for maintaining authorization rests with the nonprofit college's or university's board of trustees. (c) Beginning January 1, 2017, the nonprofit college's or university's board of trustees shall assign authorization authority and authorization responsibilities to a separate legal entity that functions under the direction of the nonprofit college's or university's board. A decision made under this subsection shall be communicated in writing to the department and the state board. (d) An entity created under subsection (c) is subject to the requirements of IC 5-14-1.5 and IC 5-14-3. Creation of an entity under subsection (c) by a nonprofit college or university described in IC 20-24-1-2.5(5) does not subject the nonprofit college or university itself to the requirements of IC 5-14-1.5 and IC 5-14-3 unless otherwise required by law. (e) Before an entity created under subsection (c) may authorize a charter school, the entity must conduct a public meeting with public notice in the school corporation where the charter school will be located. If the location of the proposed charter school has not been identified, the public hearing must be held within the county where the proposed charter school would be located. As added by P.L.127-2016, SEC.14.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-15 Repealed

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-14.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Repealed by P.L.91-2011, SEC.31.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-16 Service as organizer and authorizer prohibited

Sec. 16. An entity or multiple divisions of the same entity may not serve simultaneously as both the organizer and the authorizer of the same charter school. [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-5.5-3-15.] As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.280-2013, SEC.34.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-17 Assignment of school corporation and school identification numbers

Sec. 17. (a) The department shall, with approval of the state board, assign a school corporation identification number for each organizer granted a charter. (b) If an organizer assigned a school corporation identification number under subsection (a) consists of more than one (1) charter school, the department, with approval of the state board, shall assign each charter school a separate school identification number. (c) If an organizer assigned a school corporation identification number under subsection (b) consists of more than one (1) campus, the department shall assign each campus a separate school identification number. As added by P.L.280-2013, SEC.35. Amended by P.L.35-2014, SEC.1; P.L.269-2019, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-18.5 Authorization of adult high schools

Sec. 18.5. (a) Notwithstanding IC 20-24-1-2.5 and except as provided in subsection (b), an adult high school as defined in IC 20-24-1-2.3 may only be authorized by the charter board or the executive of a consolidated city. (b) This section does not prohibit an authorizer from renewing a charter of an adult high school that was initially authorized by the authorizer prior to July 1, 2014. (c) An authorizer may not authorize an adult high school under this section unless the general assembly makes an appropriation for the adult high school under IC 20-24-7-13.5. As added by P.L.47-2014, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.218-2015, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-19 Appointment of members to the board of certain charter schools

Sec. 19. (a) This section applies to a charter school that receives property tax revenue under any statute referred to in IC 20-24-7-6.1 or IC 20-24-7-6.2. (b) As used in this section, "executive" has the meaning set forth in IC 36-1-2-5. (c) The county executive of the county in which the charter school organizer is incorporated shall appoint one (1) individual to serve as a member of the charter school board. (d) In the case of a charter school organizer that operates more than one (1) charter school located in more than one (1) county, the county executive of the county in which the charter school is incorporated shall appoint the member under this section. (e) The following may not be appointed to a governing board under this section: (1) An individual currently serving on the governing body of a school corporation. (2) An individual currently employed by a school corporation. (f) A county executive may designate an individual who already serves on the governing board of the charter school as the county executive's appointee under subsection (c). As added by P.L.68-2025, SEC.201.

Ind. Code § 20-24-3-20 Authorizer for charter school located within school city boundaries

Sec. 20. (a) Beginning April 1, 2026, a charter may not be granted or renewed by an authorizer for a charter school located within the geographic boundaries of the school city (as defined in IC 20-25-2-12) except by one (1) of the following: (1) The charter board. (2) The executive (as defined in IC 36-1-2-5) of a consolidated city. (3) The school city. (b) A charter school that was granted a charter before April 1, 2026, by an authorizer other than an authorizer listed in subsection (a) may continue operating with that authorizer until the term of the charter expires or is terminated, whichever occurs earlier. After the termination or expiration of the charter, a charter for a charter school described in subsection (a) may only be granted or renewed by an authorizer described in subsection (a). As added by P.L.101-2026, SEC.9.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026