Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-1 Anti-discrimination
Sec. 1. An innovation network school is subject to all applicable federal and state laws and constitutional provisions that prohibit discrimination.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Ind. Code ch. 20-25.7-4
Ind. Code ch. 20-25.7-4
in effectInd. Code § 20-25.7-4-2 Establishment of innovation network schools
Sec. 2. An innovation network school may be established in the manner provided by:
(1) section 3 of this chapter; or
(2) section 4 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-3 Establishment of innovation network school by teachers
Sec. 3. (a) Two (2) or more teachers and:
(1) a principal;
(2) a superintendent; or
(3) any combination of individuals described in either subdivision (1) or (2);
who are currently employed by a school corporation may submit a plan to a board for the establishment of an innovation network school.
(b) In considering whether to approve a plan submitted under this section, the board may consider innovations in the following areas:
(1) Whether the plan:
(A) increases teacher salaries;
(B) achieves financial sustainability for teacher salary increases under clause (A) by reallocating other funds, including local, private, state, or federal funds; and
(C) develops measures for determining how the innovations or teacher empowerment:
(i) improves the quality of classroom instruction; and
(ii) increases the attractiveness of teaching.
(2) Class size and schedule.
(3) Length of school day or year.
(4) Use of technology to deliver highly effective instruction.
(5) Staffing models for teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators.
(6) Teacher recruitment, training, preparation, and professional development.
(7) School governance and the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of principals in innovation network schools.
(8) Preparation and counseling of students for transition to higher education or careers.
(9) Whether the plan incorporates a school model that uses job redesign or technology to extend the reach of effective or highly effective teachers to more students for more pay within budget.
(c) A board that approves a plan under this section may request a grant from the state board under IC 20-25.7-7 for costs associated with the development and implementation of a plan developed under this section. The board shall apply for the grant from the state board in a manner prescribed by the state board.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.118-2016, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-4 Establishment of innovation network school by the board
Sec. 4. (a) A board may:
(1) establish an innovation network school; or
(2) reconstitute an eligible school as an innovation network school;
as determined by the board.
(b) A board that establishes an innovation network school or reconstitutes an eligible school as an innovation network school under this section is not eligible for a grant from the state board under IC 20-25.7-7 for costs associated with the development and implementation of this section.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-5 Agreement to establish an innovation network school; terms; appeal to state board; limit on administrative fee
Sec. 5. (a) The board shall enter into an agreement with an innovation network team to establish an innovation network school or to reconstitute an eligible school as an innovation network school under section 3 or 4 of this chapter. An innovation network team may consist of or include teachers, a principal, a superintendent, or any combination of these individuals who were employed at the eligible school before the agreement is entered.
(b) The terms of the agreement must specify the following:
(1) A statement that the innovation network school is considered to be part of the school corporation and not considered a separate local educational agency.
(2) A statement that the innovation network team authorizes the department to include the innovation network school's performance assessment results under IC 20-31-8 when calculating the school corporation's performance assessment under rules adopted by the state board.
(3) The amount of state and federal funding, including tuition support, and money levied as property taxes that will be distributed by the school corporation to the innovation network school.
(4) The performance goals and accountability metrics agreed upon for the innovation network school.
(5) Grounds for termination of the agreement, including the right of termination if the innovation network team fails to:
(A) comply with the conditions or procedures established in the agreement;
(B) meet generally accepted fiscal management and government accounting principles;
(C) comply with applicable laws; or
(D) meet the educational goals set forth in the agreement between the board and the innovation network team.
(6) For an agreement entered into or renewed after June 30, 2023, the process the board is required to follow in determining whether to renew the agreement.
(7) For an agreement entered into or renewed after June 30, 2024, and subject to section 9 of this chapter, the innovation network school's enrollment and discipline policies, including defined attendance areas and enrollment zones.
(c) If an agreement is entered into under subsection (a), the board shall notify the department that an agreement has been entered into under this section within thirty (30) days after the agreement is entered into.
(d) Upon receipt of the notification under subsection (c), for school years starting after the date of the agreement:
(1) the department shall include the innovation network school's performance assessment results under IC 20-31-8 when calculating the school corporation's performance assessment under rules adopted by the state board;
(2) the department shall treat the innovation network school in the same manner as a school operated by the school corporation when calculating the total amount of state and federal funding to be distributed to the school corporation; and
(3) if requested by an innovation network school established under IC 20-25.5-4-2(a)(2) (before its repeal) or IC 20-25.7-4-4(a)(2), the department may use student growth as the state board's exclusive means to determine the innovation network school's category or designation of school improvement under 511 IAC 6.2-10-10 for a period of three (3) years. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the department may not use student growth as the state board's exclusive means to determine an innovation network school's category or designation of school improvement. This subdivision expires July 1, 2023.
A school corporation and an innovation network school are not entitled to any state funding in addition to the amount the school corporation and school would otherwise be eligible to receive if the innovation network school were a public school maintained by the school corporation.
(e) If a board or innovation network team fails to follow the renewal process described in subsection (b)(6), the board or innovation network team may appeal to the state board. The state board shall hear the appeal in a public meeting and ensure that the board or innovation network team follows the renewal process specified in the agreement. The board may not terminate an agreement until the board has provided evidence to the state board that the board has complied with the renewal process specified in the agreement. The state board shall issue a decision on an appeal under this subsection not later than sixty (60) days after the date the board or innovation network team submitted the appeal to the state board.
(f) If an administrative fee is included in an agreement entered into or renewed after June 30, 2023, under this section, the fee may not exceed one percent (1%) of the total amount of state tuition support that is distributed to the school corporation based on the student enrollment of the innovation network school.
(g) An agreement entered into between the board and an innovation network team under this section may not be altered without written approval from the innovation network team.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.179-2016, SEC.5; P.L.269-2019, SEC.4; P.L.246-2023, SEC.29; P.L.162-2024, SEC.7.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-6 Use of property; transportation; transfer of school corporation facility; contracts for goods and services; terms
Sec. 6. (a) For as long as an innovation network team operates an innovation network school:
(1) the innovation network team may use the school building, the accompanying real property, and the building's contents, equipment, and supplies, as provided in the agreement established under section 5 of this chapter;
(2) the school corporation may:
(A) provide transportation for students attending the innovation network school; and
(B) maintain and repair the buildings and grounds consistent with the maintenance and repair to the school corporation's other buildings and grounds;
(3) the innovation network team and the school corporation may enter into an agreement to transfer the ownership of a school corporation facility to the innovation network team; and
(4) the school corporation may not alter the use of the facility occupied by the innovation network school without agreement from the innovation network team.
(b) If an innovation network team contracts with a school corporation for goods or services, the school corporation may not charge the innovation network team more for the goods or services than the school corporation pays for the goods or services. A school corporation may not require an innovation network team to contract for specific goods or services provided by the school corporation or any other entity.
(c) A school corporation and an innovation network team may negotiate to require specific services with regard to an innovation network school during the term of an agreement. However, subject to subsection (d), an innovation network team must be able to select the service provider for the services.
(d) A school corporation may require an innovation network school to:
(1) use the school corporation's student information system; and
(2) comply with the school corporation's networking, cybersecurity, and device standards.
However, nothing in this subsection may be construed to allow a school corporation to alter an innovation network team's autonomy to determine the academic programming of the innovation network team's school.
(e) For as long as an innovation network team operates an innovation network school, the school corporation may distribute money levied as property taxes to the innovation network team. Property taxes distributed to an innovation network team must be used only for a purpose for which the property taxes could have been used by the school corporation. Property taxes distributed under this subsection may supplement services and property provided under subsection (a) or (b). The parties may jointly modify an agreement described in section 5 of this chapter to implement this subsection.
(f) An agreement concerning the transfer of ownership of a school corporation facility to an innovation network team described in subsection (a) is not subject to IC 20-26-7.1.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.246-2023, SEC.30; P.L.162-2024, SEC.8.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-7 Operational autonomy; personnel decisions; collective bargaining; participation in retirement funds
Sec. 7. (a) The innovation network team shall have full operational autonomy to run the innovation network school as provided in the agreement described in section 5 of this chapter.
(b) For any collective bargaining agreement under IC 20-29 entered into after July 1, 2015, a governing body is not bound by its collective bargaining agreement for employees of an innovation network school established under this chapter. Employees of an innovation network team may organize and create a separate bargaining unit to collectively bargain with the innovation network team under IC 20-29.
(c) Individuals employed by an innovation network school are entitled to participate in either:
(1) the state teachers' retirement fund established under IC 5-10.4; or
(2) the public employees' retirement fund established under IC 5-10.3.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-8 Applicability of certain statutes and rules to innovation network schools
Sec. 8. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, the following do not apply to an innovation network school:
(1) An Indiana statute applicable to a governing body or school corporation.
(2) A rule or guideline adopted by the state board, except for those rules that assist a teacher in gaining or renewing a standard or advanced license.
(3) A local regulation or policy adopted by a school corporation unless specifically incorporated in the agreement established under this chapter.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this article, the following statutes apply to an innovation network school:
(1) IC 20-24-8-5 (statutes applicable to charter schools).
(2) IC 20-28-11.5 (staff performance evaluations).
(3) IC 20-24-6 (employment of teachers and other personnel in charter schools).
(4) IC 20-35.5 (dyslexia screening and intervention).
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.126-2022, SEC.3.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-9 Enrollment; attendance area
Sec. 9. (a) Any student who lives in the attendance area served by a school that is operated as an innovation network school under this chapter may attend the innovation network school. The innovation network school may not refuse enrollment to a student who lives in the attendance area or a student described in IC 20-26-19-5.
(b) This subsection applies if the number of applications for a program, class, grade level, or building exceeds the capacity of the program, class, grade level, or building. If an innovation network school receives a greater number of applications than there are spaces for students, each timely applicant must be given an equal chance of admission.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.38-2020, SEC.4.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-10 Public meeting; terms
Sec. 10. An innovation network team and the board shall hold a joint public meeting at least two (2) times each year to discuss issues and progress concerning the innovation network school.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Ind. Code § 20-25.7-4-11 Development of program to support establishment of an innovation network school
Sec. 11. The board shall develop a program to provide support to teachers and administrators who wish to establish an innovation network school.
As added by P.L.214-2015, SEC.2.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026