State Releases Choice Scholarship Numbers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
And Warsaw Christian School received the most money through the program among local private schools.
Indiana Department of Education released its second annual Choice Scholarship Report Monday. The report is traditionally released in the winter and updated in the summer when numbers for the school year are finalized, according to a press release from IDOE.
The report provides an overview of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, which was passed as part of House Enrolled Act 1003-2011, and provides Choice Scholarships to students in households that meet income and eligibility requirements. The program provides funds to assist with the payment of tuition and fees at a participating Choice School.
In each subsequent year of the program, the percentage of Choice students that attended an Indiana public school at any previous point in their educational history has decreased, according to the release. Statewide, this was the first year that the number of vouchers used by students who had never attended a public school in Indiana (14,700) was larger than those used by students who had previously attended public school in Indiana (14,448), according to the IDOE.
For the current school year, 130 students residing in the Warsaw School District took advantage of the program to attend a school participating in the Choice Program in 2014-15. That is up from fewer than 10 students in 2011-12; 18 in 2012-13; and 81 during the 2013-14 school year.
Ten students residing in the Wawasee Community Schools district participated in the program during the 2014-15 school year, down from 12 in 2013-14. Fewer than 10 participated in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Whitko had its most this school year, 21, take advantage of the Choice Scholarship program. That’s up from fewer than 10 in 2011-12; 17 in 2012-13; and 14 in 2013-14.
Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. had 12 students residing within its district take advantage of the program in 2014-15, up from fewer than 10 during the previous three school years.
Triton Schools had fewer than 10 in 2011-12 and 2012-13, but none in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Manchester Community Schools had fewer than 10 in each of the past four school years.
Eighty-one students attending Warsaw Christian School received financial assistance from the program in 2014-15, up from 49 in 2013-14 and 11 in 2012-13, according to the IDOE. The school didn’t participate in the program in 2011-12.
Through the program, Warsaw Christian received $324,674.19 for students in 2014-15. In 2013-14, it received $193,676.74; and $44,438.50 in 2012-13. It did not participate in the program in 2011-12.
Thirty-four students attended Lakeland Christian Academy through the program in 2014-15. That is up from 18 in 2013-14; 15 in 2012-13; and fewer than 10 in 2011-12.
Revenue from the program for LCA totaled $156,831.46 this school year. That’s almost double the $88,161.90 it received in 2013-14. LCA took in $67,427.11 in 2012-13 and $30,398.76 in 2011-12.
Through the program, 51 students received assistance to attend Sacred Heart School, up from 38 in 2013-14; 17 in 2012-13; and fewer than 10 in 2011-12. The school received $138,211.20 through the program this year; $98,236 in 2013-14; $53,312.63 in 2012-13; and $27,000 in 2011-12.
For the 2011-12 school year, Choice Scholarships were limited to 7,500 students. For 2012-13, they were limited to 15,000 students. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, the student cap was removed and Choice Scholarships were available to any student who met eligibility and income requirements, according to the IDOE.
During the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, the program was further expanded to include eligibility components related to special education, siblings and failing schools.
According to the IDOE release, 3,911 students and 241 schools participated statewide in 2011-12. That increased to 9,139 students and 289 schools in 2012-13; 19,809 students and 313 schools in 2013-14; and 29,148 students and 314 schools for the current school year.
To participate in the Choice Scholarship Program, a student must satisfy income and eligibility requirements. All students must satisfy these three requirements: have legal settlement in Indiana; be between 5 and 22 years old no later than Aug. 1 of the school year; and be accepted for enrollment into a participating Choice Scholarship school.
After satisfying those requirements, there are seven different pathways that a student can satisfy to become eligible to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program. Detailed information on the pathways can be found at www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/choice/choice-scholarship-student-eligibility-2014-2015.pdf
Income criteria are linked to the federal free or reduced lunch program income guidelines. In order to qualify for the 90 percent Choice Scholarship award, a student must be a member of a household with an annual income equal to or below 100 percent of the amount to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program, according to the IDOE.
To qualify for the 50 percent award, the student must be a member of a household with an annual income equal to or below 150 percent of the amount to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, income eligibly for the 50 percent award was expanded to 200 percent of the amount to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program for students qualifying under the Continuing Choice and Special Education Pathways.[[In-content Ad]]
And Warsaw Christian School received the most money through the program among local private schools.
Indiana Department of Education released its second annual Choice Scholarship Report Monday. The report is traditionally released in the winter and updated in the summer when numbers for the school year are finalized, according to a press release from IDOE.
The report provides an overview of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, which was passed as part of House Enrolled Act 1003-2011, and provides Choice Scholarships to students in households that meet income and eligibility requirements. The program provides funds to assist with the payment of tuition and fees at a participating Choice School.
In each subsequent year of the program, the percentage of Choice students that attended an Indiana public school at any previous point in their educational history has decreased, according to the release. Statewide, this was the first year that the number of vouchers used by students who had never attended a public school in Indiana (14,700) was larger than those used by students who had previously attended public school in Indiana (14,448), according to the IDOE.
For the current school year, 130 students residing in the Warsaw School District took advantage of the program to attend a school participating in the Choice Program in 2014-15. That is up from fewer than 10 students in 2011-12; 18 in 2012-13; and 81 during the 2013-14 school year.
Ten students residing in the Wawasee Community Schools district participated in the program during the 2014-15 school year, down from 12 in 2013-14. Fewer than 10 participated in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Whitko had its most this school year, 21, take advantage of the Choice Scholarship program. That’s up from fewer than 10 in 2011-12; 17 in 2012-13; and 14 in 2013-14.
Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. had 12 students residing within its district take advantage of the program in 2014-15, up from fewer than 10 during the previous three school years.
Triton Schools had fewer than 10 in 2011-12 and 2012-13, but none in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Manchester Community Schools had fewer than 10 in each of the past four school years.
Eighty-one students attending Warsaw Christian School received financial assistance from the program in 2014-15, up from 49 in 2013-14 and 11 in 2012-13, according to the IDOE. The school didn’t participate in the program in 2011-12.
Through the program, Warsaw Christian received $324,674.19 for students in 2014-15. In 2013-14, it received $193,676.74; and $44,438.50 in 2012-13. It did not participate in the program in 2011-12.
Thirty-four students attended Lakeland Christian Academy through the program in 2014-15. That is up from 18 in 2013-14; 15 in 2012-13; and fewer than 10 in 2011-12.
Revenue from the program for LCA totaled $156,831.46 this school year. That’s almost double the $88,161.90 it received in 2013-14. LCA took in $67,427.11 in 2012-13 and $30,398.76 in 2011-12.
Through the program, 51 students received assistance to attend Sacred Heart School, up from 38 in 2013-14; 17 in 2012-13; and fewer than 10 in 2011-12. The school received $138,211.20 through the program this year; $98,236 in 2013-14; $53,312.63 in 2012-13; and $27,000 in 2011-12.
For the 2011-12 school year, Choice Scholarships were limited to 7,500 students. For 2012-13, they were limited to 15,000 students. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, the student cap was removed and Choice Scholarships were available to any student who met eligibility and income requirements, according to the IDOE.
During the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly, the program was further expanded to include eligibility components related to special education, siblings and failing schools.
According to the IDOE release, 3,911 students and 241 schools participated statewide in 2011-12. That increased to 9,139 students and 289 schools in 2012-13; 19,809 students and 313 schools in 2013-14; and 29,148 students and 314 schools for the current school year.
To participate in the Choice Scholarship Program, a student must satisfy income and eligibility requirements. All students must satisfy these three requirements: have legal settlement in Indiana; be between 5 and 22 years old no later than Aug. 1 of the school year; and be accepted for enrollment into a participating Choice Scholarship school.
After satisfying those requirements, there are seven different pathways that a student can satisfy to become eligible to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program. Detailed information on the pathways can be found at www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/choice/choice-scholarship-student-eligibility-2014-2015.pdf
Income criteria are linked to the federal free or reduced lunch program income guidelines. In order to qualify for the 90 percent Choice Scholarship award, a student must be a member of a household with an annual income equal to or below 100 percent of the amount to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program, according to the IDOE.
To qualify for the 50 percent award, the student must be a member of a household with an annual income equal to or below 150 percent of the amount to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, income eligibly for the 50 percent award was expanded to 200 percent of the amount to qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program for students qualifying under the Continuing Choice and Special Education Pathways.[[In-content Ad]]
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