How School Choice Is Reshaping Education in Indiana

Whether you are a staunch school choice advocate or committed skeptic, there is no denying that the increasing number of ways that parents can educate their children in Indiana is fundamentally changing K-12 education in our state.

More families are making choices about where and how to educate their children. Innovation is everywhere you look, from new graduation requirements, work-based learning, and the growth of microschooling.

EdChoice is the go-to resource about all things school choice in Indiana, and our research tells us the following:

Private school choice is growing – and fast. Indiana has three school choice programs that allow parents to access private schools for their children. More than 87,000 students are using a voucher, tax-credit scholarship or educational savings account to access a private education. That is more than double the number using private school choice programs a decade ago.

Charter schools are here to stay. More than 50,000 students are educated in one of the 120 Charter schools across the state, an increase of roughly 40% from 10 years ago.

Public schools are big players in the school choice space. More than 75,000 students are choosing a public school outside their assigned district, an increase of 40% since the years before the COVID pandemic.

This should not surprise us. EdChoice polling shows that more than 7 out of 10 Indiana parents of school aged children support education policies that provide the opportunity to tailor their children’s education. 

All these choices are leading to innovation in all facets of K-12 education in Indiana. Examples include:

Indiana “redesigned” high school and has new graduation requirements. Indiana’s new high school diploma, for the Class of 2029 and beyond, replaces Core 40 with a single baseline diploma and adds personalized “readiness seals” for enrollment, employment, or enlistment. There are also added opportunities for students to take electives and work-study opportunities that align to their post-high school goals.

Students can now access Career Scholarship Accounts, which provide $5,000 annually in career-based scholarship funding to high school students in grades 10-12. CSA funding can be used for work-based learning (WBL) opportunities, such as apprenticeships, internships, and more. 

Private schools like Providence Cristo Rey High School are breaking the mold of traditional schooling. PCR is a private school that focuses on creating students who are college ready and career prepared. They boast a 100% college acceptance rate, a 95% graduation rate and work with over 100 corporate partners to expose their students to work-study opportunities.

Girls IN STEM Academy is a new, all-girls public school for grades K-8. Along with a core curriculum, Girls IN STEM prepares female students to excel in high school, college and a rewarding STEM career.

The Indiana Microschool Collaborative promises “a future where every Hoosier student attends a school that feels like it was designed just for them.” Founded out of Eastern Hancock public school district, the goal is to open public schools in all parts of Indiana that serve 50-75 kids each. The collaborative does not seek prescribe one-size-fits-all instruction. Instead, it provides the structure, tools, and support for each microschool to design a flexible, community-rooted learning environment.

Over 1,650 students are being educated in 70+ independent microschools in all corners of the state.  These schools are often run by former public and private school teachers and prioritize flexibility, creativity, and meaningful relationships. They often combine the best elements of homeschooling, private education, and modern innovation to meet the unique needs of each learner.

The true objective of school choice in K-12 education is to create a dynamic and innovative system of learning the provides a variety of ways for students to achieve their academic, career, and life goals.  In Indiana, we have taken the first steps in creating that system by giving all families the ability to choose the type of learning environment their children attend. Choice will continue to drive innovation, and Indiana’s K-12 education system will be permanently transformed.