INDIANAPOLIS—Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) released a statement outlining her support for Indianapolis Public Schools’ (IPS) 2026 Operating Referendum. Hunley represents Senate District 46, which houses a portion of IPS.
“The future of IPS will be decided over the next 21 days. I am supporting the 2026 operating referendum to ensure families in our community have access to a high-quality, well-funded public education.
“The promise of a quality education is what ensures growing families stay in Indianapolis; that they invest their time and talent into our collective future. Thriving cities with strong communities require strong school systems.
“The challenges IPS faces are not unique; nearly 40 Indiana school districts from rural, suburban and urban backgrounds are seeking referenda to ensure students have access to essential services.
“The question we should be asking is not if we should support a school referendum. The question is why are we put in this position to begin with? This statewide trend is a direct result of decisions made by the statehouse Republicans: decisions that continue to hurt public school districts, Hoosier families and future generations. Most notably, the supermajority-controlled General Assembly passed legislation that diverts funds from public schools to pay for the private school education of the wealthiest families in the state.
“The cost for the voucher policy alone? Over $500 million a year. The cost of funding all 38 referenda across our state? Around $500 million annually.
“Instead of fully funding special education programs or other essential services, the General Assembly chose taxpayer-funded subsidies for private school education and then hastily passed property tax cuts for those with the highest valued homes, leaving schools around the state bracing for building closures, larger classroom sizes and cuts to transportation services.
“I spent over a decade of my public education career working for IPS students and families. My daughters are IPS high school students, blessed to have excellent teachers and coaches setting them up for their future. And, in my Near Eastside neighborhood where a majority of families send their kids to IPS schools, I know who will suffer if this referendum doesn’t pass. This is personal.
“It is personal to all those who have proudly attended IPS, raised their families here and have aspirational goals for the education of their children and grandchildren following in their footsteps.
“A referendum isn’t a goal. It’s a tool school districts are being forced into. After November 3, we can continue conversations about how we fix public schools funding in our state. Until then, we have to use the resources we have today to ensure we have strong public schools now.
“By guaranteeing IPS has the resources to continue serving students today, we guarantee the opportunity to continue working towards having the strongest public schools in the country right here in our community.”
