Nonprofit: Indiana’s public school districts should share property tax revenue [Video]

INDIANAPOLIS — A newly-formed nonprofit group says Indiana’s public school districts should have to share property tax revenue with charter schools.

The Indiana Charter Innovation Center represents about half of the state’s 123 charter schools. Its CEO, Scott Bess, launched Purdue Polytechnic High School and, in his new role, told 13News that funding parity is the center’s key legislative objective during the upcoming legislative budget session, which begins Jan. 8.

About 5% of Indiana’s K-12 schools are charter schools. They are public schools that operate independently of public districts and are overseen by appointed, nonprofit boards of directors and “independent authorizers.”

While charter schools get state and federal funding, they currently do not get local property tax revenue. Bess said that makes it difficult to provide services, like bus transportation or extra-curricular activities.

“Charter schools have always had to pay for …