Legal Prep Charter Academy presents prospectus for 6–12 law‑themed school; board to consider application in June

Legal Prep Charter Academy of Chicago presented a prospectus to the Indianapolis Charter School Board for a proposed 6–12 law-themed campus in Indianapolis. The board did not vote on the prospectus; staff told the board Legal Prep will return for a public hearing and a potential authorization vote in June.

Legal Prep’s leaders described a model that blends a college-preparatory curriculum with sustained exposure to law-related coursework and internships. The network outlined a course of law classes for every grade beginning in sixth grade, culminating in dual-credit law courses at the 11th and 12th grade levels through a partner institution. Legal Prep said it maintains a high counselor-to-student ratio in Chicago and emphasized social-emotional supports and restorative practices for students who have experienced trauma.

Presenters and alumni highlighted the program’s experiential elements: monthly legal-practicum partnerships with law firms and corporate legal departments, mock-trial and negotiation competitions, judicial internships, and legal professionals serving as classroom mentors. The school said it aims to locate near downtown to maximize internship and courthouse access and described preliminary conversations with local bar and corporate partners.

Legal Prep provided an early enrollment and budget overview. Presenters said the prospectus budget used a conservative enrollment target for the first year (roughly 70 students in the initial sixth-and-ninth-grade cohorts) and also described a “minimum viable” threshold the team modeled if fundraising proceeds were available (roughly 100 students split across the middle and high school cohorts). The school’s leadership said local fundraising, legal‑community partnerships and a phased growth plan will support startup costs; they also committed to building a local governing board with a majority of Indianapolis-based members before a final charter vote.

Board members asked questions about governance, the relationship between the Chicago organization and an Indianapolis governing board, and how Legal Prep would recruit and serve families in Indianapolis. Legal Prep said it intends for the Indianapolis entity to be a separate nonprofit district-authorized entity with its own Indianapolis governing board; the Chicago organization would contract for services and provide start-up experience, with any inter-board contracts to be arm’s-length and re-evaluated annually. Legal Prep said it was actively recruiting local board members and expects an Indianapolis-majority board before the June hearing.

Next steps: Legal Prep will return to the Indianapolis Charter School Board for a June public hearing and staff will continue to review the prospectus. The board will accept public comments at the next meeting; if the board votes to advance, the applicant will complete pre-opening and authorization requirements with OEI.