Information from the Indiana Department of Education Monday shows that more area families are taking advantage of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program. ICSP 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, according to IDOE information. For the 2011-2012 school year, Choice Scholarships were limited to 7,500 students. For the 2012-2013 school year, Choice Scholarships were limited to 15,000 students. For the 2013-2014 school year, the student cap was removed and Choice Scholarships were available to any student that met eligibility and income requirements, the information states. 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. For the 2011-12 school year, fewer than 10 students from each of the six area school corporations used Choice Scholarships. The six school districts include Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Manchester, Warsaw, Wawasee and Whitko. In 2012-13, the IDOE reports Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Manchester and Wawasee each had fewer than 10 students use the vouchers. However, Warsaw Community Schools had 18 students and Whitko had 17. For the current school year, Tippecanoe Valley and Manchester had fewer than 10 students take advantage of the program to attend the school of their choice. Triton had zero, while Wawasee had 12, Whitko had 14 and Warsaw had 81. The IDOE report also provides the numbers of students attending Choice Schools and how many dollars each of those schools received. Lakeland Christian Academy had fewer than 10 students on vouchers in 2011-12, but that increased to 15 in 2012-13 and 18 in 2013-14. The amount of dollars LCA received increased from $30,398.76 in 2011-12, to $67,427.11 in 2012-13 and $88,161.90 in 2013-14. Warsaw Christian School didn’t take part in 2011-12. However, it had 11 students on vouchers in 2012-13 and received $44,438.50. For 2013-14, it had 49 students on vouchers and took in $193,676.74. Sacred Heart had fewer than 10 students on Choice Scholarships in 2011-12, and took in $27,000. That increased to 17 students and $53,312.63 in 2012-13; and to 38 students and $98,236 in 2013-14. Information on the School Choice Program may be found on the IDOE website at www.doe.in.gov/choice
