School Choice Groups Tout Strong Interest in Voucher Program to Date; Leaders Expect to See Even More Student Approvals in the Weeks Ahead

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Only 40 days into the
implementation of the state’s new school voucher program, the Indiana Department
of Education (DOE) has reported that 248 schools and 2,230 Hoosier students have
already been approved for participation. School choice leaders are optimistic
about the progress to date and with 83 percent of the approved recipients
qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the groups are especially pleased to see
that the program will serve the needs of so many low-income children.

“We have been working very hard to educate eligible families about their new
options and it’s exciting to know that thousands of kids will soon benefit from
being at a school that best suits their needs,” said Lindsey Brown, Executive
Director of School Choice Indiana. “We are continuing to host information
meetings around the state and we encourage interested parents to attend those
sessions or visit us at MyChoiceINed.com to learn more.” Announcements about
upcoming parent informational sessions are also posted on the School Choice
Indiana Facebook Page.

Trend information from other states suggests that participation numbers will
continue to grow as more families become aware of their options. Voucher
programs in other states have ramped up over time. For example, a similar
program in Ohio brought in roughly 2,713 participants in its first year of 2007.
Today, that program has more than 13,000 participants.

“The initial participation numbers are very strong and we expect to see more
growth in the weeks ahead,” said Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Friedman
Foundation for Educational Choice. “While the strongest interest is coming from
large urban areas, children across the state are signing up for vouchers. This
program is working exactly as the legislature intended, and it is really
exciting to see families in so many markets around the state exercising their
option to choose which school can best meet their child’s needs.”

According to the DOE, 399 children from Indianapolis, 245 from Fort Wayne, 211
from South Bend and 94 from Evansville have been approved for receiving vouchers
so far. Children from 149 school corporations will get a scholarship with no
school corporation accounting for more than 20 percent of the participants.

“Every child should have the opportunity to attend the school of their choice,”
said Heather Coffy, a single mother of three from Indianapolis. “I am happy for
all of the Indiana families that are taking advantage of the program and I
encourage other parents to learn more about the options that are now available
for their children.”

The number of available vouchers for the 2011-2012 year is capped at 7,500
children. Next year the participation cap increases to 15,000 children. Limits
on the number of vouchers will be removed in the third year of the program.

“Families are telling us that they really appreciate having the choice to look
around and find the school that best fits their child,” said John Elcesser,
Executive Director of the Indiana Non-Public Education Association. “The
application period is open through the beginning of September, so we expect to
see significantly more vouchers approved over the next month.”

Students in grades 2 -12 who attended a public school for the prior two
semesters or those in grades 1-12 who received a scholarship from a certified
scholarship granting organization in the previous year are eligible to apply for
vouchers.

Children qualifying for the federal free-and-reduced price lunch program
($41,348 for a family of four) can receive a scholarship for up to 90 percent of
the state tuition amount for the sending school district. Students from families
who earn up to 150 percent of the program ($62,022 for a family of four) are
eligible for a voucher worth up to 50 percent of the tuition amount. Income
limits are higher for larger families.

To apply, interested families should contact the school of their choice
directly. Schools will submit parent applications to the DOE electronically. The
list of approved schools and eligibility requirements can be found at
http://www.MyChoiceINed.com and http://www.doe.in.gov/schoolchoice.

About School Choice Indiana:School Choice Indiana, Inc. is a non-partisan,
statewide organization dedicated to the principle that providing parents with
real choices in the education of their children will improve educational
outcomes and improve the quality of education, both in private and public
schools.

About The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice:The Friedman Foundation for
Educational Choice, Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation started in
1996 by Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman and his lifelong partner Rose D.
Friedman. It was established to advance the Friedmans’ vision of school choice
for all children as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality
of K-12 education in America.

For commentary and interview opportunities, please contact:
School choice leaders:
Lindsey Brown
Executive Director of School Choice Indiana
215-837-3680; lbrown@schoolchoiceindiana.org

Robert Enlow
President and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
317-681-0745; rcenlow@edchoice.org

John Elcesser
Executive Director of the Indiana Non-Public Education Association
317-236-7329; jelcesser@archindy.org

Glenn Tebbe
Executive Director of the Indiana Catholic Conference
317-236-1455; gtebbe@archindy.org

Derek Redelman
Vice President, Education & Workforce Development, the Indiana Chamber of
Commerce
317-264-6880; dredelman@indianachamber.com

Kevin Chavous
Board Chair of the Black Alliance for Educational Options
202-255-3870; kchavous@baeo.org

Andrew Campanella
National Director of Communications, American Federation for Children
202-276-1303; acampanella@federationforchildren.org

A.D. Motzen
Regional Director, Agudath Israel
513-530-1364; ADMotzen@agudathisrael-mwr.org
Parents participating in the school choice program:
Heather Coffy
Indianapolis, IN
317-257-4111 x 246 (w); 317-777-2280 (c); heather.coffedy@bright-ideas.org

Sheila Hayden
Muncie, IN
765-748-9686; skhayden21117@yahoo.com

Trisha Smith
Granger, IN
574-298-8228

Kimberly Tran
Seymour, IN
812-523-1460
Administrators of schools participating in the school choice program:
Sara Guth
Principal, St. Bernard School
812-649-250; sguth@evdio.org

Carl Loesch
Principal, Marian Catholic High School
574-259-5257; cloesch@marianhs.org

Jo Hoy
Principal, Cardinal Ritter High School
317-924-4333; jhoy@cardinalritter.org

Jill Wells
Administrator, Christian Academy
812-944-6200; jwells@caschools.us

CONTACT:
Lindsey Brown
215-837-3680
lbrown@schoolchoiceindiana.org

SOURCE School Choice Indiana, Inc.