Board votes to close online charter school in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An online charter school in Indiana that was sanctioned by the state because of poor performance will close next year.

The Hoosier Academies Network board voted Tuesday to end the experimental Hoosier Academies Virtual School program, The Indianapolis Star reported . The board decided not to renew the school's charter, which expires in June.

Board chairman John Marske said the board believes the school wouldn't pass the charter renewal process.

School founders said the school was meant to allow high-achieving students to work on a flexible schedule. But the school has seen high rates of student turnover, expulsion and dropouts. The school has received a failing grade from the state's accountability system from 2010 to 2015.

The state Board of Education sanctioned the virtual school in May because of poor performance. The board decided to freeze enrollment instead of closing for the 2017 school year.

"We view the enrollment freeze as a positive thing," Marske said. "Without having hundreds of new students coming in the door, we've been able to better engage the students we have."

School officials are now focusing on making sure teachers and families are informed about the situation, Marske said. The school serves about 1,750 students statewide.

"Our intention is to give our families and teachers as many options as possible," Marske said. "Meanwhile, we are also focused on improving results of the Hoosier hybrid school in Indianapolis, as well as the Hoosier Insight school."

All three of the schools the Hoosier Academies Network oversees are chartered through Ball State University. Insight School of Indiana and Hoosier Academies Indianapolis will remain open.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com