ISTA Announces Support for IPS Referendum Following Agreement to Protect Educators and Students
09/17/2026

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Sept. 17, 2026) – The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) announced today that it will support the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) 2026 operating referendum following commitments made by IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson regarding educator retention, student supports and the district's approach to addressing future budget challenges.

For ISTA, the decision comes down to one guiding principle: protecting students and protecting educators.

"ISTA's mission has always been to advocate for the students, teachers and public schools that are the foundation of our communities," said Jennifer Smith-Margraf, president of ISTA. "After extensive conversations with IPS leadership and receiving clear commitments regarding future budget decisions, we believe supporting this referendum is the best path forward to protect classroom learning opportunities, maintain educational stability and preserve the teaching profession in Indianapolis."

The referendum, if approved by voters, will provide IPS with approximately $44 million in annual funding to support educator recruitment and retention, maintain student programming and ensure critical services for students receiving special education services and English language learners.

ISTA's support is based in large part on IPS's commitment that its current spending reduction plans do not include a district-wide reduction in force for educators and that future budgetary decisions will prioritize alternatives to teacher layoffs whenever possible.

In a recent communication to ISTA and the Indianapolis Education Association (IEA), Superintendent Johnson outlined the district's strategy for addressing anticipated financial pressures through three primary focus areas:

• Advocacy for increased state funding for special education.
• Right-sizing innovation network agreements to reflect changing financial realities.
• Evaluating school mergers and consolidations in response to enrollment changes.

Additionally, IPS committed to partnering with ISTA and IEA to advocate at the Statehouse for fair and adequate special education funding for Indiana students.

"Teachers have consistently shouldered the burden of underfunded public education," said Ronald Swann, IEA president. "Our responsibility was to ensure that educators would not be the first solution to the district's financial challenges. The commitments made by IPS provide meaningful assurances that the district is focused on protecting classrooms, supporting students and maintaining a stable workforce."

ISTA emphasized that while challenges remain, the referendum provides a critical opportunity to avoid deeper disruptions to schools and students.

"Our position has been clear throughout this process," Swann added. "Protecting teachers and students has always been, and will always remain, our number one goal. Supporting this referendum is consistent with that commitment because it helps preserve educational opportunities, supports educator stability and ensures students continue receiving the services they need to succeed."

ISTA also welcomed IPS's commitment to collaborate on legislative efforts to secure more equitable funding for students with special needs, a long-standing priority for public education advocates across Indiana.

The association encourages Indianapolis voters to carefully consider the impact the referendum will have on students, educators and neighborhood schools and to support continued investment in public education.

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