Indianapolis board approves Legal Prep Charter Academy application, 6-1

The Indianapolis Charter School Board voted 6–1 on June 24, 2025, to approve the application from Legal Prep Charter Academy to open a grades 6–12 law‑themed charter school near Monument Circle, with an intended opening in fall 2026.

The vote followed a public hearing, presentations from the applicant team and a review summary from the Office of Education Innovation (OEI). The approved application moves Legal Prep into the pre‑opening stage; OEI staff will monitor recruitment, facilities, finance and staffing before a school opening would be finalized.

OEI staff framed the decision as the start of a rigorous planning period rather than an immediate green light. OEI staff reminded the board that the office “retains the discretion to determine when a school opens” and listed key pre‑opening milestones — enrollment rounds, facility securing, and staffing — that could halt or delay an opening if benchmarks are not met.

Legal Prep leaders said the Indianapolis campus will bring the organization’s Chicago law‑themed curriculum to a downtown location and start with two entry points — sixth grade and ninth grade — then add a grade level each year. Sam Finkelstein, CEO of Legal Prep, said the…