VCP DECLARES INTENT TO ACQUIRE IPS PAUL I. MILLER SCHOOL 114 
PLAN INCLUDES POTENTIAL USE OF INDIANA $1 LAW

During the October 27 Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) action session board meeting, Ryan Gall, Executive Director of Victory College Prep (VCP), shared VCP’s intent to purchase Paul I. Miller School 114 if it is no longer used for classroom instruction. As part of the IPS Rebuilding Stronger plan, Paul I. Miller School 114 would be closed for classroom instruction by the 2023-2024 academic year.

Under Indiana state statute IC 20-26-7.1, if a school building that was previously used for classroom instruction becomes vacant or unused, a school corporation must make it available for lease or purchase by a charter school for $1. In November, upon the IPS Board of Commissioners’ vote to approve the Rebuilding Stronger plan, VCP will engage with the Office of the Indiana Attorney General and Indiana Department of Education, pursuant to state law, to purchase the facility for $1.

The Paul Miller property is located at 2251 Sloan Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203, just two city blocks from the VCP campus, and in recent years, VCP has welcomed a growing number of Paul Miller transfer students into its classrooms. The VCP acquisition of the Paul Miller site mitigates potentially harmful disruption in the Southeast by continuing to operate a high-quality school option for families in that area. When IPS closes Paul Miller, the district’s nearest neighborhood school will be more than three miles away from the site.

Victory College Prep is a public charter school that has served southeast Indianapolis families for 17 years. VCP currently serves over 900 students in grades K – 12. Our students are 88% young people of color, and 88% are economically disadvantaged. Compared to the statewide average proficiency increase on ILEARN last year, the pace of VCP student growth was five times faster than other Hoosier students. Black students at VCP have experienced four times better COVID-19 learning loss recovery than their peers at other Indianapolis area schools. For VCP Latino students, that recovery was three times better. 

Victory College Prep is ready to work with the district in service of the shared goal to support Indianapolis students and families. 

READ MORE LOCAL COVERAGE 

Indianapolis charter school announces intent to acquire IPS school building if it closes – Chalkbeat
IPS Prepares to Share Final Restructuring Proposal – WFYI News Reporter Elizabeth Gabriel, via Twitter
Charter school expresses intent to acquire IPS school building if it closes – Indianapolis Business Journal (subscription required)
An IPS school building potentially being closed has a buyer. They’d pay $1 – IndyStar
Charter school wants to pay $1 for IPS building on chopping block – WISH-TV 8
Charter School Wants to Buy School from IPS – WIBC Radio