Charter school advocates rally at Ind. Statehouse

INDIANAPOLIS – About 200 charter school advocates and students hope a Statehouse rally will draw attention to the work of the non-traditional schools.

A legislative proposal that passed the Democrat-controlled House would limit funding for charter schools. But several senators said at the rally Monday they would work to eliminate that provision in the GOP-led Senate.

Schools set up display booths showing off their work and brought cheerleaders, bands and steel drummers to perform at the event.

Charter schools are public schools that are exempt from most state regulations. Indiana has 49 charter schools in 15 counties.

About 15,000 students attend the schools. That’s less than 2 percent of the state’s total school population.