Melissa Jay
Principal, Our Lady of Hungary School
I believe that every family should have an opportunity to educate their children at the school that provides the right environment for their learning and development. Throughout my career at Our Lady of Hungary, I have heard too many sad stories of parents who felt our school would be the right fit for their children but they could not afford it financially. I am so glad that these families now have a chance to try a different school environment for their children because of Indiana’s new Choice Scholarship program.
Sixty-three students from the South Bend area are currently attending Our Lady of Hungary School because of the state’s school voucher program. The majority of them come from low -income families and receive assistance through the federal free and reduced lunch program. Many of these same students visited us last year but, their financial situation prevented them from attending our school. With the new voucher program, they were finally able to enroll this year.
Families who receive vouchers to attend our school tell us that they chose us for our smaller class sizes and for the personalized attention they get from teachers. The like that we provide both challenging academic programs and a family-like environment where everyone feels welcomed.
Our kids enjoy after-school homework help sessions that we host three days a week to make sure that every student is up to speed with his or her classes. They also like the school’s diversity: 40 percent of our students are Hispanic, and 30 percent are African American. Although the school has a religious affiliation, only 60 percent of students are Catholic.
Every child is unique and they all have different needs. Through the Choice Scholarship Program, families now have the ability to choose the school most well equipped to meet the individual needs of their children. This is good news and it will result in better educated kids who will have a better chance of succeeding in their lives.
