Indianapolis Public Schools Bolster Student Privacy and Safety with New Policy

The new measure follows a lawsuit claiming the district unlawfully impeded federal immigration enforcement.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Indianapolis Public Schools has approved a new policy focused on student access, safety, and privacy. The policy is meant to bring clarity and reinforce equal access to public education for all students, regardless of race, religion, disability, or immigration status. It also protects student record confidentiality and enforces a non-discrimination policy. The new policy comes after a lawsuit by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who claimed the district refused to turn over a student to ICE.

Why it matters

The new IPS policy aims to balance student privacy and safety with legal requirements, following a lawsuit that accused the district of unlawfully impeding federal immigration enforcement. This highlights the complex and evolving legal landscape around immigration and student rights in public schools.

The details

The newly passed IPS policy is meant to bring clarity and reinforce equal access to public education for all students. It protects student record confidentiality, releasing information only when required by law, and enforces a non-discrimination policy. The policy comes after a lawsuit by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who claimed the district refused to turn over a student to ICE.

  • The new policy was approved by the IPS board on February 27, 2026.
  • The lawsuit by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita was filed in January 2026.

The players

Indianapolis Public Schools

The public school district serving the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Todd Rokita

The Indiana Attorney General who filed a lawsuit against IPS, claiming the district unlawfully impeded federal immigration enforcement.

Hope Duke Star

The president of the IPS board, who said the new policy brings clarity and reinforces equal access to public education for all students.

Elia James

A community advocate who works with many immigrant IPS families and has nieces and nephews in the district, who called the new policy a positive step.

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What they’re saying

“Order matters. Predictability matters. When expectations are clear and consistently applied, schools are safer and learning is stronger.”

— Hope Duke Star, IPS Board President

“IPS will continue to comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws. This policy neither creates exceptions nor authorizes deviation from those requirements.”

— Hope Duke Star, IPS Board President

“The legal landscape may continue to evolve but for families, I think the most important thing right now is that IPS is clearly committed to protecting their children's rights and their data.”

— Elia James, Community Advocate

What’s next

The judge in the lawsuit filed by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita will likely rule on the case in the coming months, which could impact the implementation of the new IPS student privacy and safety policy.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex balance that public school districts must strike between upholding student privacy and safety, while also complying with evolving legal requirements around immigration enforcement. The new IPS policy aims to provide clarity and reinforce equal access to education for all students, regardless of their background.