2026 Renewal

Early Renewal (2026)

• Allowed under Indiana law as long as the vote occurs before the final year ends
• District can reset the 5–8 year clock earlier
• Often aligned with required November election cycles (state law change)
• Charter schools have to legally opt-in to recieve share

Wait Until 2028

• Must pass before December 31 of the final year or the funding expires
• Less flexibility if timelines shift or laws change again
• Charter schools have to legally opt-out to recieve share

Bottom line: Early renewal = more control over timing

Early Renewal

• Avoids a “funding cliff”
• Prevents:
  • Staffing cuts
  • Hiring freezes
  • Program reductions
• Gives certainty for multi-year budgeting

Real-world example: districts have moved renewals earlier specifically to avoid multi-million dollar shortfalls tied to staffing timelines
Wait Until Expiration

• High risk of:
  • Budget gaps if vote fails or is delayed
  • Forced reductions before the vote even happens
• Indiana staffing decisions often must be made months before revenue is guaranteed

Bottom line: Waiting creates financial instability risk

Early Renewal 2026

• Supports:
  • Contract decisions
  • Teacher retention
  • Program continuity
• Aligns with spring budgeting + staffing cycles

Wait Until 2028

• District may need to:
  • Issue non-renewal notices
  • Freeze hiring
  • Plan cuts “just in case”

Bottom line: Early renewal protects people and programs

Early Renewal 2026

• Typically framed as:
  • “Continuation” or “stability”
• Data shows:
  • Renewals pass at much higher rates than new referendums

Wait Until Expiration 2028

• Higher stakes → can feel like:
  • “All or nothing”
• If it fails:
  • District must wait ~350–700 days to try again

Bottom line: Early renewal reduces political and election risk

Early Renewal 2026

• Easier to message:
  • “No increase” or “maintaining current services”
• Often positioned as:
  • “Protecting what we already have”

Wait Until 2028

• Messaging becomes reactive:
  • “We will lose X if this fails”
• Can feel more urgent / negative

Bottom line: Early renewal = proactive messaging advantage

Early Renewal 2026

• Ensures continuous revenue stream
• Avoids:
  • Cash flow disruptions
  • Fund balance depletion

Wait Until Expiration 2028

• Even a short delay can create:
  • 1-year revenue gaps
  • Need to use reserves

Bottom line: Early renewal = no interruption in funding

Staffing levels would have to be reduced. Class sizes would grow. Mental health supports — school resource officers, counselors and social workers — would be cut. Special education programming across all schools would be reduced.

Academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular programming would be reduced. Transportation changes would result in school walk zones. Post-secondary readiness programs — apprenticeships, CTE, college savings support — would be reduced.