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Indiana Charter School Board

Independent state agency overview
Formed	2011
Jurisdiction	Indiana, United States
Headquarters	143 West Market Street, Suite 400 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Website	www.in.gov/icsb/

The Indiana Charter School Board (ICSB) is an independent state agency of the U.S. state of Indiana that serves as a statewide authorizer of public charter schools. Established in 2011 by the Indiana General Assembly, the ICSB reviews charter school applications, grants and renews charters, monitors school performance, and has the authority to revoke charters from underperforming schools. The agency is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indiana first enacted charter school legislation in 2001, when the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill signed into law by Governor Frank O'Bannon.^[1] The original law established three categories of eligible charter school authorizers: local school governing bodies, state educational institutions offering four-year baccalaureate degrees (such as Ball State University), and the Mayor of Indianapolis.^[2] Ball State University became the first public university to authorize charter schools in Indiana following the law's passage. The mayor of Indianapolis, beginning with Mayor Bart Peterson, authorized 16 charter schools between 2001 and 2008.^[1]

In 2011, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation that expanded and restructured the state's charter school framework. As part of this legislation, the Indiana Charter School Board was created as a new statewide charter authorizer, broadening the options available to prospective charter school organizers beyond universities and the Indianapolis mayor's office.^[3] The legislation was part of a broader education reform effort during the 2011 legislative session that also made it easier for groups to start charter schools while granting the Indiana Department of Education more authority to intervene in underperforming schools.^[1]

Indiana's charter school law has been nationally recognized for its strength. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked Indiana first in the nation for the strongest state charter school law for seven consecutive years through January 2022.^[4] The Center for Education Reform gave Indiana an "A" grade in its 2018 National Charter School Law Rankings and Scorecard. The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) also ranked Indiana first in the country for its laws governing authorizer oversight.^[4]

The Indiana Charter School Board consists of nine members appointed by various elected officials to serve four-year terms:^[5]

• The Governor of Indiana appoints four members, with no more than two from the same political party.
• The Secretary of Education appoints one member who must have previous experience with or on behalf of charter schools.
• The Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives appoints one member.
• The President pro tempore of the Indiana Senate appoints one member.
• The Senate Minority Leader appoints one member.
• The House Minority Leader appoints one member.

Members appointed by General Assembly leadership may not be current legislators. Board members are ultimately responsible for the ICSB's authorizing activities, including decisions to grant, renew, or revoke a charter.^[5]

The ICSB maintains a professional staff that manages day-to-day operations of the agency. Staff assist with the charter application review process, conduct site visits to authorized schools, monitor compliance with reporting requirements, and prepare materials for board meetings. The ICSB is subject to Indiana's Open Door Law, and all board meetings are open to the public and livestreamed on the agency's YouTube channel.^[6]

The ICSB's administrative fee, charged to its authorized charter schools, is set at 0.75% as of the 2021–22 school year.^[7]

The ICSB's stated mission is to authorize and hold accountable a portfolio of high-performing charter schools in which students achieve high levels of growth and graduate prepared for college and careers. Its vision is that students throughout Indiana have access to high-performing public schools.^[3]

The agency operates under five guiding principles:^[3]

1. Students First – The ICSB prioritizes actions that further the best interests of students.
2. High Expectations – Authorized schools are expected to maintain high academic achievement standards, strong family and community engagement, and ethical standards.
3. Excellence in Leadership – The ICSB authorizes schools that demonstrate strong leadership at both the governance and administrative levels.
4. Commitment to Innovation – The agency seeks operators that demonstrate potential to accelerate student success through innovative school models, instructional strategies, and technology.
5. Rigorous and Transparent Accountability – Schools are held accountable through mechanisms that uphold school autonomy while fostering excellence and protecting student and public interests.

The ICSB assesses each authorized school annually through a rigorous, outcomes-oriented accountability system. The agency publishes performance dashboards for each school and releases an annual report summarizing the performance of its portfolio.^[3]

Charter schools authorized by the ICSB are required to administer state assessments such as ILEARN and IREAD and are subject to Indiana's A–F letter grade accountability system. Schools must also complete an independent third-party financial audit each year.^[4]

The ICSB conducts regular site visits to its authorized schools and requires detailed reporting on academic, financial, and organizational performance. Schools that fail to meet the terms of their charter agreements may face non-renewal or revocation of their charter.^[3]

The ICSB holds two application cycles per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The application process includes:^[8]

1. Submission of a Letter of Intent
2. A Full Application detailing the proposed school's mission, curriculum, governance, budget, and operational plans
3. An interview with the applicant
4. A public hearing
5. A final decision by the Board

The ICSB uses external evaluators experienced with charter school application reviews to assess applicant qualifications and capacity. Only applicants that demonstrate the ability to operate high-performing charter schools receive charters.^[8]

As of the 2025–26 school year, the ICSB authorizes approximately 45 charter schools across Indiana. The authorized portfolio includes a diverse mix of school types and grade levels, from elementary through high school and adult high school programs. Authorized schools are located in cities including Indianapolis, Gary, South Bend, Lafayette, Evansville, Terre Haute, Muncie, and others.^[9]

Notable school operators within the ICSB portfolio include:

Operator	Notable Schools	City/Cities	Grades
Goodwill Education Initiatives / Goodwill LEADS	The Excel Center (multiple locations)	Anderson, Bloomington, Clarksville, Gary, Hammond, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie, Noblesville, Richmond, Shelbyville, South Bend, Elkhart, Evansville, Terre Haute, Columbus, Marion	Adult High School
Christel House Academy, Inc.	Christel House Academy South, Christel House Academy West, Christel House Watanabe Manual High School, Christel House DORS	Indianapolis	K–12, Adult
Phalen Leadership Academies, Inc.	George and Veronica Phalen Leadership Academy, PLA@ 48, PLA@ 93, PLA@ 103, James and Rosemary Leadership Academy	Indianapolis	K–12
Circle City Preparatory, Inc.	Ace Preparatory Academy, Circle City Preparatory Charter School	Indianapolis	K–8
GEO Academies, Inc.	GEO's Next Generation Academy, GEO's Next Generation Elementary Academy	Indianapolis	K–12
Career Academy of South Bend, Inc.	Career Academy Middle School, Career Academy High School, Success Academy Primary School, Success Academy at Boys & Girls Club, The Portage School of Leaders	South Bend	K–12
21st Century Charter School at Gary, Inc.	21st Century Charter School @ Gary	Gary	K–12
Charter School of the Dunes, Inc.	Charter School of the Dunes	Gary	K–8
Gary Middle College, Inc.	Gary Middle College	Gary	9–12/Adult
Paramount Schools of Excellence, Inc.	Paramount School of Excellence Lafayette	Lafayette	K–7
Higher Institute of Arts and Technology, Inc.	Higher Institute of Arts and Technology	Merrillville	K–8
Global Leadership Academy, Inc.	Steel City Academy	Gary	K–12
Indiana Microschool Collaborative, Inc.	Indiana Microschool Collaborative	Multiple Locations	K–12
Purdue Polytechnic High School Indianapolis, Inc.	Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend	South Bend	9–12
Allegiant Preparatory, Inc.	Allegiant Preparatory Academy Charter School	Indianapolis	K–5

The ICSB is one of several charter school authorizers permitted under Indiana law (Indiana Code § 20-24). Other authorizers include:^[10][11]

• Ball State University (Office of Charter Schools)
• Indianapolis Mayor's Office (Office of Education Innovation / Indianapolis Charter School Board)
• Trine University (Education One)
• Grace College
• Calumet College of St. Joseph
• University of Southern Indiana
• Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
• Various other local governing bodies and qualifying nonprofit colleges and universities

Indiana does not place a statutory cap on the number of charter schools that may operate in the state.^[11]

• Charter school
• Charter schools in the United States
• Indiana Department of Education
• National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
• Goodwill Industries

• Official website
• ICSB YouTube Channel
• Indiana Charter School Board on Twitter/X
• Indiana Code Title 20 — Education
• Indiana Charter Schools — National Alliance for Public Charter Schools