As a lifelong educator, I have a strong desire to see students at all schools succeed. Over the years, I’ve seen lots of kids do well in public schools and that option is a good fit for many families. But, I have also seen students struggle in some public school settings and then come to Roncalli and thrive in the learning environment that we provide. Since one size does not fit all, I’m delighted that Indiana has a new statewide voucher program that lets families decide which option is best for them.
Up until this year, the learning options available to Hoosier students were largely dictated by the family’s zip code. People with money certainly had options available to them, but low-income families were basically trapped if the public school in their area didn’t meet the needs of their child.
Now, parents are free to make the choice that best meets the needs of their child and I think that gives kids a better chance of being successful. Over time, we’ll have more stories to share regarding the success of this program, but we are already seeing positive signs.
One of our new students is from a family that lives well below the poverty line. When this student learned that a voucher could help her parents better afford our tuition, she came to us and started the process of applying. Her situation was one where the public school wasn’t meeting her needs. She told us, “I’m not getting the academic preparation that I need to get into college and do what I want to do with my life.”
She wanted to come to Roncalli prior to this year, but without the voucher, that wasn’t an option. Now, she is getting the academic rigor that she needs and we are challenging her in an environment that promotes learning and opportunity. We are delighted that she came to us and we are working with her to ensure that she gets to college and that she’s ready to succeed once she’s there.
Education is so important to our kids and our future as a city and a country. Parents know that and they want the best opportunity for their kids. Sometimes that means a great public school. Sometimes that means a great private school. Whatever the case, I’m just glad that we have a voucher program that puts parents in charge of determining the best option for their kids.
