Indy effort aims to keep families in city schools

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis schools would have more "high-quality" seats in its classrooms under a plan city leaders hope will keep families from leaving for higher-performing suburban districts.

The Indianapolis Business Journal reports (http://bit.ly/W8q8Ku ) the "Neighborhoods of Educational Opportunity" project would create an organization that would issue grants to charter schools and Marion County's 11 traditional districts. The grants would help them new schools modeled on the city's most successful ones.

Deputy Mayor of Education Jason Kloth says an exodus of middle-class families with children costs the city income and can hurt property values.

The project is one of 20 finalists in a competition called the Mayors Challenge. Five prizes of $1 million or more will be awarded in late March.

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Information from: Indianapolis Business Journal, http://www.ibj.com