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 organization “really use[s] the law as a hook for learning,” describing a program of daily law classes, monthly downtown law‑community partnerships, dual‑credit plans with Ivy Tech and a goal to offer the Indiana College Core over time.

Joseph Williams, the school's proposed principal, outlined early recruitment and community engagement work with local partners, including Empowered Families, McKinney law students and area law firms. Williams said Legal Prep has started mapping potential bus routes and intends to make staff regularly available in community events; “we're committed to doing the work from day 1,” he said.

Applicant financials and sustainability were the central topics of board questions. Legal Prep submitted a conservative budget that does not assume fundraising revenue; its leaders said they plan to raise roughly $400,000 annually to support program costs and to improve teacher pay. Sam Finkelstein said facilities cost in year one are modeled at about 20% of revenue with a target of approximately 13% by year five. The applicant said it has not counted fundraising in its submitted budget and expects to continue aggressive fundraising if needed.

Several public speakers — including current and former Legal Prep students, staff and supporters — described the model’s impacts in Chicago and urged approval. Scott Best, president of the Indiana Charter Innovation Center, told the board the organization supports the application and that Legal Prep brings “an idea or a model that doesn't exist in the city.” Jasmine Jackson, a departing board member who joined the meeting remotely, praised OEI’s review process, saying OEI “remains the best authorized authorizer in this state and arguably in the country.”

Board members asked for more evidence on several points before and during the discussion: (1) middle‑school readiness and leadership experience for grades 6–8, since Legal Prep’s Chicago campus serves grades 9–12; (2) enrollment plans and recruitment proof of interest; (3) comparisons and possible collaboration with existing programs such as Arsenal Technical High School’s law/public safety pathways; and (4) lessons from other locally attempted programs that did not sustain. The applicant said it has increased local board representation, moved staff off the governance board, is actively recruiting Indianapolis‑based board members and is continuing outreach to community leaders and feeder schools.

During the roll call vote, the board recorded six yes votes and one no vote. Andrea Neely voted no; she expressed concerns about sustainability and recommended additional review of local precedents before launch. The board’s approving motion was made by Shameka Anderson and seconded (second not specified in the roll call). The chair called the motion passed, with the tally recorded as yes 6, no 1.

Next steps for the applicant listed by Legal Prep and OEI include continued student recruitment, locking a facility, applying for federal Charter School Program (CSP) funds when the application window opens July 1, 2025, and hiring founding staff. OEI reiterated that approval advances the application to pre‑opening planning and that final decisions about opening will depend on meeting the benchmarks OEI will monitor.

Votes at a glance: Legal Prep Charter Academy application — motion to approve made by Shameka Anderson; seconded (not specified); roll call vote recorded as yes 6, no 1 (Andrea Neely). Outcome: approved.

The board meeting concluded after the vote; OEI and Legal Prep staff said they would continue the planning and community engagement needed before any school opening.