Indianapolis Public Schools begins the 2022–23 school year on Monday, August 1, with full in-person learning for all students, Grades Pre-K–12.
The IPS Back-to-School page highlights information families need to know before the first day of school.
Note: Innovation school start dates vary, so please check with your school’s calendar for details.
Check with your student’s school website to secure any school supply lists.
Transportation
- As the new school year begins, providing IPS students with safe and reliable transportation is a top priority.
- Over the summer, IPS has been working in partnership with First Student to improve the school bus-riding experience for families. Some of these measures include raising starting wages for drivers, revamping some bus routes, and securing another transportation facility to operate more effectively and efficiently.
- IPS and First Student believe our efforts will help to deliver the level of transportation service your family deserves. We remain committed to ensuring our buses arrive on time in the morning and the afternoon.
- Families will receive up-to-date information on school bus delays and uncovered routes from First Student, our district’s transportation provider. Parents: Please keep your contact information updated in PowerSchool to ensure you receive up-to-date messaging.
Learn more about being an IPS Yellow Bus rider, IndyGo rider or walker.
Food Service
Summer highlights:
-IPS served nearly 63,000 meals this summer: an increase of over 10,000 meals from last summer.
-After a 3-year hiatus, the Bus Stop Café (food bus) was back in service during the summer to provide meals at three locations: Stratford Apartment Complex, Martin Luther King Community Center, and the Haughville Public Library.
-This past summer, the Bus Stop Café served almost 4,000 meals to children in our community.
Learn more about this school year’s menus.
Textbooks
- Families can submit an application for textbook and educational benefits assistance through our application portal. Only one application, per household, is needed and must be submitted each school year.
- All IPS families must pay textbook rental fees unless they have been been approved for textbook and educational benefits assistance for the current school year. Please reference our current textbook rates for questions about costs. Payments can be made online using MySchoolBucks.
Dress Code/Uniforms
Full dress code and uniform policy.
- All IPS students are expected to be dressed in appropriate attire beginning the first day of the school year.
- The dress code covers standard, athletic, and dress-up attire.
- Dress code exemptions can be submitted based on a health, religious, etc. cause.
Stay Connected
There are several ways to stay connected to district and school-based news.
FREE Tutoring – IPS Tutoring for All
- IPS is excited to offer free tutoring this year in partnership with Tutored by Teachers.
- IPS is incorporating the program into its curriculum as a result of a successful pilot partnership with Tutored by Teachers last spring.
- The tutoring program launches on September 12 and students will meet virtually twice weekly for one hour in the afternoons.
- IPS Tutoring for All is available for every student, at no cost to families.
- Deadline to register is Aug. 5.
To register your student or find out additional tutoring information.
Health Services
- IPS COVID-19 protocols have not changed since the end of the 21-22 school year and the district will continue to follow the MCPHD and IDOH recommendations.
- The IDOH advised that masks can be optional for students, but IPS continues to strongly encourage the use of masks when indoors or around others. Families are encouraged to remain vigilant of COVID-like symptoms, to keep their student’s home, and to seek testing if they are exhibiting any symptoms.
- The CDC and IDOH isolation guidance for K-12 settings has not changed. Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID will be required to isolate for a minimum of five (5) full days without identifying or quarantining close contacts.
- Currently for ages 5 and older, receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from the virus. IPS will continue to encourage vaccination for all eligible populations and host vaccination clinics with community partners throughout the school year.
- To find all these protocols and more please visit our COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols and Resources page.
For more details on required school immunizations, COVID-19 protocols, and other services.
Student Code of Conduct
School Safety
- IPS officers are assigned on-site in middle and high schools Monday – Friday to respond as needed.
- Patrol officers are available to respond to the elementary schools as needed.
- Random metal detections are conducted daily by IPS Police officers throughout the district.
- At each school, doors remain locked and visitors must be buzzed in by the main office who can see and talk to visitors prior to buzzing them in.
- All schools have security film installed.
- Heavy duty locks are installed at all IPS buildings.
- All schools have safety bollards installed at entrances.
- Security cameras have been updated.
- All schools have new radios that have the direct call button to IPS Police.
- IPS has partnered with IMPD on the ShotSpotter system which will identify shoots fired near IPS schools.
- IPS conducts three “man-made” drills per school year. The first man-made drill is an “armed intruder” drill. This drill is typically performed as a lockdown drill.