Indiana Expands Choice Scholarship Program, Making Private School Education More Accessible
The state of Indiana has taken a significant step towards expanding educational opportunities for families by expanding its Indiana School Choice Scholarship program. Thanks to new legislation enacted this year, 97% of all Indiana families are now eligible for the program, up from about 80% just last year. This expansion ensures that more families have the option to send their children to private schools that best meet their specific learning needs.
The Indiana School Choice Scholarship, created in 2011, provides scholarships to offset tuition at participating private schools, covering 100% of fees for elementary and middle school and 75% of high school fees. The recent legislation has simplified access to the program and made it almost universally available. For example, any family of four making up to $222,000 qualifies for the program.
Dan Kozlowski, the managing director of Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana, an organization committed to expanding access to private schools, believes that quality education should be open to everyone, and the program expansion makes that a possibility. To help families determine their eligibility and scholarship amount, Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana has created the NWI Choice Scholar Calculator, a simple and easy-to-use tool that connects parents with schools in their area. According to the calculator, 99% of families in the Region qualify for the program, and eligible schools are spread across Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties.
Kozlowski is thrilled about the program’s success and the positive impact it has had on local Catholic schools. He notes that enrollment has been increasing at almost every single one of their schools. This growth in enrollment is unprecedented in decades and is set to continue with the program expansion.
The Indiana state government deserves credit for empowering parents to choose the best education for their children. By giving families the tax dollars they pay back to them, the government is saying it should be their choice where their child is educated, whether it be at a private or public school. The important thing is that the choice is available for families, especially in areas where quality schools may be lacking.
To determine eligibility for the Indiana School Choice Scholarship program, families can visit the nwichoicescholar.org website. For more information on Big Shoulders Fund, visit bigshouldersfund.org.
Indiana’s expansion of the Choice Scholarship Program is a significant development in providing access to quality education for all families. By making private school education more accessible, the state is ensuring that parents have the ability to choose the best learning environment for their children. As the program continues to grow and enrollment increases, it is clear that families value having the power to decide what is best for their children’s education. With this expansion, Indiana is setting an example for other states to follow in prioritizing educational choice for families.
