[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6580076,"mediaKeyId","3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44","parentId",3160386,"title","Legal Prep Charter Academy presents prospectus for sixth–twelfth grade campus; board schedules June hearing for full application","audioSeconds",3138,"startMs",12789000,"endMs",15927000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44&start=12789&end=15927","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44/thumbnail_12789000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580076/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Legal-Prep-Charter-Academy-presents-prospectus-for-sixthtwelfth-grade-campus-board-schedules-June-hearing-for-full-application","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580076-ca3d4da66f6fc45e169c2988b7877893/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146360&Signature=g-4z5UxEr2Kdveq6tEl2Vqi55LQ8WZYMnUXyqyQtoFeDqjJd9uJ1CTlG2f52-ee5yEkb42qhqZZEuyQf4WySFFm0-EntSBQnWyJMG52Z3cfgQPRuQdxKgycB9c3DmHeIqhtMEh7gOPCT~1iG9mgxdf72DewPMbl4GdaZxQ4Wj6hQV~CBUI4lGRapr8JTFDIqLRdPhCHkq2X4tdfNfcceYkQTXEhFFgNALrPVE2nTv0k0PP6s5gIiXbqU4vUYnNE03eaGQEJKRQSakzHMuqjCa37ku1ADzU2P-NLMm6T9RtDfv-9itzr8ZjYEUM7idbcsvLrMULcfjwyiEWnPAThGYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","article","Legal Prep Charter Academy, an operator based in Chicago, presented a prospectus to the Indianapolis Charter School Board for a law‑themed sixth through twelfth grade charter school and outlined a phased opening plan and community outreach in Indianapolis.

Sam Finkelstein, CEO of Legal Prep, told the board the model emphasizes four years of law instruction for all students, mock‑trial and negotiations programs, judicial internships and strong social‑emotional supports. “We are proposing a sixth through twelfth grade program here in Indianapolis,” Finkelstein said during the prospectus presentation, adding that the school’s Chicago campus serves an area with high need and similar student demographics.

The presentation described a slow‑growth launch that would begin with sixth and ninth grades in year one, expanding by one grade a year until full sixth through 12th coverage. Legal Prep said its target first‑year enrollment would be approximately 170 students and that the operator has modeled contingency budgets that would support smaller opening cohorts.

Legal Prep representatives described community outreach to neighborhood groups, bar associations, downtown employers and faith leaders. The operator said it plans to locate the school near downtown Indianapolis to maximize internship and partnership opportunities with law firms, corporate legal departments and the courts.

Board members and attendees asked detailed questions about governance, local board membership, community engagement and how the operator will ensure the Indianapolis board and parent advisory groups are local and independent from the Chicago organization. Sam Finkelstein and Joseph Williams, the proposed campus leader who will relocate from Chicago, said the operator will finalize a locally seated board and expand the parent advisory council; the operator also said it will separate Indiana and Illinois governance structures contractually and allow Indianapolis leaders majority decision making for local operations.

The board did not vote on Legal Prep’s prospectus at this meeting. OEI staff told the board the prospectus will move to a full application stage and Legal Prep is expected to return to the board in June for a follow‑up public hearing and potential vote on the full application. Board members asked Legal Prep to provide a detailed recruitment plan, a local board slate and contingency enrollment budgets when it returns.

Public comment included Chicago Legal Prep alumni, parents and staff who traveled to Indianapolis to share program highlights and outcomes such as internships, dual credit and college persistence. Several speakers described judicial internships, dual credit pathways and the law curriculum as life‑changing opportunities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Indianapolis Charter School Board - Apr 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Legal Prep Charter Academy presented a prospectus for a law‑themed sixth–twelfth grade school in Indianapolis and received feedback from the board; the operator will return to the Indianapolis Charter School Board in June with a full application and locally seated board members.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580079,"Charter board approves Indiana Math and Science Academy for new Hawesville campus",5193,7587000,12780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44&start=7587&end=12780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44/thumbnail_7587000.jpg","/articles/6580079/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Charter-board-approves-Indiana-Math-and-Science-Academy-for-new-Hawesville-campus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580079-8607228aa6630aa29218eb81d86750ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146360&Signature=MsZWitA7z~hbTvsdxXQuuitkDNQX4679mP~Eu934Dbs0lG5cN0npffntI2SBK6deThuBGmdJIGCrV11NxUT5nvNdo0VkEtOJuTmKNlRcGq6scCpTCM8I8vrkydBxa9eA6D8ipwd5-yOm4SMbOhg3LirD1MswcyF0X3evCws7uULrls1nJFbiH12hPgyRph-2dQ8RdicOivV2x73z2x0f5rOWNs7btuwBGIuWE~M3zJcDWYagqsTSFnQzAaBHVXOcBh4AcIjZSxoxAiq1Rjv9goJMaecZ2quMBLOFQT7EZ31tBZeJfjJGAbz3XfXCM9yfD2MCaGVQLEPv3xdU3eYu3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Indianapolis Charter School Board voted to approve a replication application from Indiana Math and Science Academy (IMSA) for a new Hawesville‑area campus after a public hearing and a review by the Office of Education Innovation.

IMSA leaders told the board the proposed IMSA Central campus will open with a slow‑growth plan beginning with kindergarten through sixth grade in year one, adding grades in successive years toward a K–12 model. IMSA representatives described steady reenrollment and said the two existing IMSA sites (West and North) have sustained enrollment and board‑backed facility investments.

“IMSA West is a thriving, inclusive community that provides high quality education to 554 students,” board chair Jim Sparks said during the presentation, and IMSA staff emphasized STEM programming, dual‑credit and career connected learning. Current IMSA students and staff told the board about project‑based learning, PLTW engineering pathways, robotics and science fairs that the operator said are consistently attracting students from around the metro area.

IMSA presented a facility plan: the operator said it is negotiating to purchase a large former school/church property a few blocks from downtown Hawesville and has letters of support from local leaders and faith institutions. Concept Schools — IMSA’s network management organization — said it will provide a start‑up loan and can reduce management fees to support the initial years if enrollment is lower than projected.

Board questions focused on finance (start‑up funding and the Concept Schools loan), projected enrollment growth and academic performance differences between IMSA West and North. IMSA leaders said West’s higher test performance reflects stable neighborhood draw and steady cohorts; North draws from a broader geographic area and has a more transient student population, IMSA said, and IMSA described regional instructional coaching and a plan to replicate West’s interventions at North and the new Central campus.

After discussion the board approved the IMSA Central replication application in a roll‑call vote.

The operator will return to OEI’s pre‑opening process and continue community engagement. IMSA said it plans to locate the school near a central neighborhood commercial corridor to maximize access to employers and partners and to enable student internships and legal/career connections the school described.","The Indianapolis Charter School Board voted to approve a replication application from Indiana Math and Science Academy (IMSA) to open a third Indianapolis campus (IMSA Central). The operator described STEM programming, community outreach and a facility under negotiation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6580084,"Charter board approves Victory College Prep split: separate middle and high school charters",6325,1173000,7498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44&start=1173&end=7498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3160386-c8ce3b5baba43315470ca639284cee44/thumbnail_1173000.jpg","/articles/6580084/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Charter-board-approves-Victory-College-Prep-split-separate-middle-and-high-school-charters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580084-2943be615f481fd45c656c6912adeb4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146360&Signature=hiklu2qdMdw3WFC8H0Gy7lyZh68jTgmYW~3slYXkAaMARhFxCOzffDtjcB57azMYi2g8Q~yKF0LQtIzdP1tY340Om35BmY~m95oN4JcUHCFHMeZoDCe0SQWIDspOP1m2mRkY-J-DGkpYMXbaPkQYpDcpksbj7~f3x0QcaCJKNMzF515f1OSdm~hUWCsKTkku8IhgbwYtmtzdDxV3YtirutmWbtDH-n5gp69EMEZwihjIKh81XT~grKNF-f2VmRK6z9ZuA9YujNNx9Q3U0GJ6m6vF0dVbWnH6grcrmTMyo3SsdzoW4C09c-Jqj7jOBHsmkdha1~LJn3pqF8n-vP0lPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Indianapolis Charter School Board approved separate charters for Victory College Prep’s standalone middle school and high school on unanimous and near‑unanimous roll calls Tuesday after a public hearing that included school leaders, teachers, alumni and parents.

Victory College Prep (VCP) asked the board to formally recognize two new charters to separate its current K–12 campus into a standalone middle school and a standalone high school on a second site. Joseph Myers, VCP board chair, told the board: “Your vote this evening will ensure that more Indianapolis students who come from historically marginalized communities can access sustainable, high‑quality education in the decades to come.”

Board staff from the Office of Education Innovation framed the hearing as the public step in a months‑long review. VCP’s leaders presented operational readiness details: a secured second site at the former Bethel Park elementary, a staffing plan that organizers say is already more than 80% complete for the coming year, and a multi‑year enrollment and finance model the operator said will be sustainable at full scale.

During public comment, more than a dozen current VCP teachers, students and alumni described the network’s dual‑credit offerings, internships and extra‑curricular programs. Multiple speakers said separating middle and high grades into different campuses would strengthen age‑appropriate programming and improve student outcomes. “A new middle school of all our own will create a sense of pride for them,” said Shrenta Hewlett, a VCP teacher and longtime staffer. High school teachers described plans to expand SAT preparation, dual credit and alumni coaching to raise college matriculation and persistence.

Board members focused their questions on financial sustainability, transportation and academic outcomes. VCP officials said the Bethel Park building purchase was funded from cash reserves and did not add debt. The operator said its current network enrollment is roughly 1,100 students and that the target for the coming year is 1,300, expanding to 1,500 at full scale. On transportation, the operator said it runs an extensive bus network covering large parts of southeast Indianapolis and expects to scale routes with enrollment; roughly 80–85% of current students ride buses.

Board members pressed VCP on academic performance, particularly high‑school math and SAT scores. VCP leaders acknowledged gaps in college‑readiness math and described the stand‑alone high school as a way to focus resources on SAT preparation and postsecondary supports.

After the presentation and Q&A the board voted separately on the two charter applications. The motion approving Victory College Prep Middle School passed unanimously. The motion approving Victory College Prep High School passed 7–1, with one board member voting no.

Victory College Prep will proceed to the usual post‑approval pre‑opening and pre‑enrollment steps required by OEI, including facilities renovation timelines, staffing and monthly pre‑opening checkpoints.

Votes at a glance: Victory College Prep — Middle School: approved (roll call: 8 yes, 0 no). Victory College Prep — High School: approved (roll call: 7 yes, 1 no).

The board’s approval begins a year‑plus process of pre‑opening activities (facilities work, staffing, enrollment verification and safety inspections) before the high school and middle school can enroll students for the coming school year.","The Indianapolis Charter School Board approved separate charters for Victory College Prep’s new standalone middle school and a high school campus after presentations from the operator, public comment from parents, staff and students, and board questions about finances, transportation and student supports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Legal Prep Charter Academy presents prospectus for sixth–twelfth grade campus; board schedules June hearing for full application

Charter board approves Indiana Math and Science Academy for new Hawesville campus

Charter board approves Victory College Prep split: separate middle and high school charters