When the Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners convened for its Board Action Session on Tuesday, Oct. 22, topics included a proposal for a new athletics eligibility policy, an Innovation Network schools update and a quarterly finance update.
What follows is a deeper look at some of those agenda items.
Athletics Eligibility Policy
District Athletic Director Darren Thomas presented a recommendation to realign the IPS academic eligibility policy for athletic participation.
What Audiences Need to Know:
- The current athletics academic eligibility policy was adopted in 1999.
- The policy was revised in 2006 to include a nine-week grading period for eligibility checks.
- It is the most stringent policy in central Indiana.
- It was intended to raise the bar for student athletes.
- IPS anticipated other districts and the IHSAA would also adopt tougher policies. They did not.
- IPS is out of alignment with other districts and the IHSAA.
- The IHSAA has no GPA requirement and only requires students to pass 70% of the maximum number of courses allowed. They have no attendance requirement.
- IPS is the only school district with a letter grade requirement (no more than two grades below a “C”) and an attendance requirement (90%).
- The current policy has produced negative results including:
- Lower participation rates.
- Fewer competitive programs.
- Eligible students missing out on an opportunity to play.
- Students choosing non-IPS schools.
Key Messages:
- The recommended eligibility policy will:
- Move to assist and not dismiss struggling students.
- Allow more IPS students to be further engaged and receive the benefits of sports participation.
- Mandate student tables for students with a GPA below 2.0.
- Enforce existing behavioral standards and attendance requirements.
- The proposed policy will provide a positive impact to more students including:
- Increased student engagement.
- Academic support for student athletes.
- More competitive programs.
- Alignment with other districts and the state.
ACTION: Passed 6-0
Innovation Agreement Updates
Chief Portfolio Officer Jamie VanDeWalle presented two Innovation Network school agreement updates for approval.
What Audiences Need to Know:
- In June 2019, the IPS Board of School Commissioners approved a one-year pause for Thrival Indy to:
- Find a fit in the IPS All-Choice High School model.
- Develop a long-term plan for financial sustainability.
- Plan sustainable staffing.
- Ensure students are well-prepared for an extended study-abroad experience.
- According to a Memorandum of Understanding for Thrival Indy, the following would be decided by Dec. 15, 2019:
- Grades served.
- Type of implementation (school, program, etc.).
- Location for study abroad.
- School location.
- Enrollment targets for January 2020.
- Budget and staffing model.
- Selection of a school leader.
Key Messages:
- Proposed updates for Thrival Indy include:
- Serving Grades 9–12, starting with Grade 9 and growing slowly over four years.
- IPS LEA Innovation Network school.
- Study abroad takes place in Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.
- The school will be located in Arlington Middle School.
- Target 35 students by the end of the Round 1 enrollment window and around 80 students by the end of round 2.
- India Hui would remain the school leader.
- Proposed updates for the Cold Spring School amendment include:
- Expanding from Grades K–6 to Grades K–8 over the next two years.
- For two years in a row, Cold Spring has been the fourth or fifth most popular IPS Choice program.


ACTION: Passed 4-2
Quarterly Finance Update
Chief Financial Officer Weston Young presented the quarterly finance update for the first quarter of the 2019–20 school year.
Key Messages:
- IPS has provided internal and external stakeholders details related to the 2019–20 school year Student-Based Allocations for each school.
- A report of allocations by school has been posted on myips.org on the Finance page.
- A report of allocations by school has been posted on myips.org on the Finance page.
- IPS continues to advocate for equitable resources with external stakeholders to serve all students, regardless of need.
- Federal and state funding gaps continue for students with high needs, including Special Education (SPED) and English Language Learners (ELL).
- Federal and state funding gaps continue for students with high needs, including Special Education (SPED) and English Language Learners (ELL).
- The IPS property tax base has experienced an overall increase in value in the past decade. The assessed value is projected to increase an average of 2.8% over the next decade.
ACTION: For Information Only