Indiana legislators are advancing bills banning food additives and phones from schools.

Speakers overwhelmingly rejected a recommendation that would dilute the power of the elected Indianapolis Public Schools board in favor of a 9-member board appointed by the mayor.

The proposal addresses how facilities and transportation will be run and how property taxes will be distributed.

Separate proposals would also restrict phones in schools and allow parents to set stronger filters on school-issued devices.

The ILEA’s recommendations are heading to lawmakers, who see the potential to replicate many of them throughout the state but could be skeptical of giving mayors more power.

The two proposals favored by the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance would dilute the power of the elected school board.

Once recommendations from the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance are finalized, they’ll head to state lawmakers.

New bills proposed by Indiana lawmakers would make the state’s existing cellphone ban in schools even stricter.

The endowment is waiting to approve a grant request from Indianapolis Public Schools until the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance finalizes its recommendations for the district.

Redistricting has dominated headlines and lawmakers’ time. But deregulation and the future of IPS may be in the cards in 2026.