[Southsider2k12]

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/8593706-...nh-GWg.facebook

A Gary faith-based school has the most students in the state enrolled in Indiana’s new education voucher program.

The Indiana Department of Education released figures Thursday showing that Ambassador Christian Academy at 900 W. Ridge Road had 110 voucher students. Next in line locally was Diocese of Gary’s Andrean and Bishop Noll high schools with 41 and 40 students, respectively.

Statewide, 3,919 students enrolled in private schools, reallocating more than $16.2 million from the public school districts where they live.

State officials have hailed the voucher program, called the Indiana Choice Scholarship program, as the nation’s broadest. It’s also the fastest-growing. Lawmakers approved the program in April and parents began signing up in July.

The legislature set a cap at 7,500 vouchers this year and no more than 15,000 next year. The voucher program fell quickly under attack by opponents, including the Indiana State Teachers Association, who say it violates the state constitution by giving public money to religious organizations. The lawsuit is pending in a Marion County court.

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said he’s not surprised at the number of parents who enrolled their children, but he worries about the impact on public schools.

“We’re setting up public schools for failure,” said Smith, a member of the House Education Committee and education professor at Indiana University Northwest. Smith said research shows vouchers don’t ensure academic achievement. “I’m going to wait and see what the results are, but there are many concerns.”

Ambassador Christian Academy, where students spend an hour each week in chapel, is sponsored by Embassies of Christ Church. The voucher program has nearly doubled the school’s enrollment. The state provided Ambassador Academy with $471,629 for the 110 voucher students. Andrean High School received $223,372 for 41 students and Bishop Noll received $223,605 for 40 students.

State education officials said low- to moderate-income families are taking advantage of the program and the enrollment represents a cross-section of families and schools in every region. Eighty-five percent of the students come from families whose household incomes qualify them for free or reduced lunch. More than 30 percent of students are from rural and suburban areas, and more than half of the students represent minority households.

Indiana’s Choice
Scholarship program

Top local schools
receiving vouchers

1. Ambassador Christian Academy (Gary), 110 students

2. Andrean High School (Merrillville), 41 students

3. Bishop Noll High School (Hammond),
40 students

4. Queen of All Saints (Michigan City), 38 students

5. St. John Bosco
(Hammond), 36 students

Source: Indiana
Department of Education


Reach Carole Carlson at 648-3154.

[bandaid19]

Ah, but the question is: Now that the count is over, and the monies have been allocated, how many of these voucher/waiver students are still at these private institutions? Remember, if a students starts the year at a school, makes it past whatever designated day (October 1st? 15th?), that school is allocated funds for them. If they are then expelled, and go to say... a public school, the funds do not follow them there.

So, I'd like to know, in a month or so, how many of those voucher/waiver students are STILL enrolled at the respective schools.

[Tim]

Ah, but the question is: Now that the count is over, and the monies have been allocated, how many of these voucher/waiver students are still at these private institutions? Remember, if a students starts the year at a school, makes it past whatever designated day (October 1st? 15th?), that school is allocated funds for them. If they are then expelled, and go to say... a public school, the funds do not follow them there.

So, I'd like to know, in a month or so, how many of those voucher/waiver students are STILL enrolled at the respective schools.

Do some digging - it would be interesting to know.