Education Matters With MySchoolOptions

Latest Episodes:

Episode 46 - Bonus Episode: A Snapshot of Choice Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

In this special bonus episode, Cesar and Sarah dives deep into the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, exploring its evolution, impact, and what the future holds for private school participation in Indiana. This episode breaks down the latest 2025 Choice Report from the Indiana Department of Education, providing insights into how school choice is shaping educational opportunities and equity across the state.

Key Takeaways:

Historical Evolution of School Choice in Indiana

Indiana’s journey to educational freedom, beginning with the first charter school law in 2001, major reforms in 2008 that enabled public-to-public school transfers, the introduction of tax credit scholarships and vouchers for private schools, and recent expansions to universal eligibility.

The Choice Scholarship Program: Opening Doors

Impact on Hoosier families, making private school education accessible to more students.
How expansions have progressively reduced barriers, especially income requirements, paving the way for nearly universal eligibility by the 2026–27 school year.

By the Numbers: School Choice Participation

Enrollment breakdown:

~80% of students attend their assigned traditional public school.
20% participate in some form of school choice (public-to-public transfers, charter, innovation network, or private schools).
Largest group: ~95,000 students using public-to-public transfer.
Private school choice: 8% overall, 6% using vouchers (~74,741 students).

Growth in private school enrollment—steady increase of ~5,000 students per year.

Who is Participating?

Spotlight on demographics and financial background:

Average participating family size is about 4.6 people.
Average family income: just under $100,000.
Majority white, split evenly male/female, with strong representation from other ethnicities.
Higher participation at elementary levels (K-5).
Average voucher received: ~$6,000; average private school tuition: just under $8,000.

Geographical Trends

Highest choice participation in metropolitan/suburban areas due to more available options (private and charter schools).
Some rural/small-town counties have limited or no private schools, affecting participation.

Looking Forward

The imminent shift to universal school choice and its potential implications.
Challenges in expanding access to options in underserved areas.

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 45 - Putting Families First: Inside Indiana’s ESA and CSA Program Success Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

On this episode, Cesar and Sarah sit down with Indiana State Treasurer Daniel Elliott. Daniel isn’t just the man who oversees $16 billion of Hoosier funds—he’s also a passionate advocate for school choice, a dad of four, a former software engineer, and a true Hoosier at heart. Daniel shares his personal journey from growing up in rural Jennings County to public service, his family’s diverse education choices, and his strong belief that parents know their kids best.

The focus turns to Indiana’s innovative Education Scholarship Account (ESA) and Career Scholarship Account (CSA) programs. Daniel explains why he believes the Treasurer’s Office is best equipped to manage these programs instead of the Department of Education. He highlights the office’s record of efficiency (including reducing payment processing times from 45 days to just 3 days), significant cost savings, and a parent-centric, flexible approach hailed as the “gold standard” nationwide.

Throughout the episode, you’ll hear real stories about how school choice options—homeschool, charter, public—have benefited Daniel’s own children, and powerful testimonials about ESA’s impact on special needs students. Daniel also addresses recent legislative proposals to move ESA/CSA program oversight, raising concerns about the possible loss of personalized service and program flexibility if transferred to a larger bureaucracy.

Key Takeaways:

Daniel Elliott’s Background:
Growing up in Southern Indiana, being first in his family to attend college, and his move from IT to public service.
School Choice Journey:
The Elliott family's hands-on experiences with public school, homeschool, and charter schools for their four children.
Inside Indiana’s ESA & CSA Programs:

What the programs offer (customized education funding for special needs students and career/apprenticeship pathways).
Why the Treasurer’s Office administers these programs, not the Department of Education.
Dramatic improvements in efficiency, provider options, and direct, responsive service to families.

Parent-Centric Approach:
How Daniel’s team listens to parents and adapts the programs to fit real needs—plus why this nimble, small-business style model works better than traditional bureaucracy.
Advocacy and Legislative Concerns:
The potential risk to families if ESA/CSA oversight moves to a larger agency, and Daniel’s appeal for lawmakers to keep the program where it is.
How Listeners Can Help:

Parents: Share feedback and personal success stories with officials.
All: Reach out to Indiana lawmakers to support school choice and the Treasurer’s Office’s continued oversight.

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 44 - Celebrating Indiana’s Literacy Gains: Greg Harrell Talks IREAD Scores & the Future of School Choice Sep 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Sarah welcomes Greg Harrell, the newest addition to the IQE/MSO team, for his podcast debut. Greg shares his background in public service, education, and government, and provides an in-depth look at the recently released 2025 IREAD scores—Indiana’s critical assessment for third-grade literacy. Together, they discuss the state’s post-pandemic progress, key education policy priorities, and the strong results from Indiana’s non-public schools.
Key Takeaways:

Meet Greg Harrell: Greg’s roots in southern Indiana, his career path from state government to education advocacy, and his passion for policy and school choice.
What is IREAD?

Overview of Indiana’s IREAD test for third graders: Origins, purpose, and why it matters.
The evolution of the assessment since its 2013 implementation.

The 2025 IREAD Results:

Statewide increase: Over 87% of third graders passed, hitting pre-pandemic levels.
Record gains: Largest year-over-year improvement since the test’s creation, with about 6,000 more students passing compared to last year.
Non-public schools shine: 96% proficiency rate for Indiana’s private schools.

Factors Driving Improvement:

$170 million invested since 2022 in literacy initiatives (public and philanthropic funding, including from Lilly Endowment).
Earlier identification and support: Second graders now take IREAD, helping educators identify and assist struggling students sooner.

Looking Forward:

The Department of Education’s ambitious goal: 95% of third graders passing IREAD by 2027.
Ongoing policy priorities: Defending school choice, reducing unnecessary regulation, and tweaking programs for better outcomes in the 2026 legislative session.

Why School Choice Matters:

Greg’s personal perspective on the evolution and importance of educational choice in Indiana.
The alignment between K-12 and higher education in empowering families and students with options.

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 43 - Empowering Parents: Navigating Indiana School Choice Sep 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan sit down with Kim Graham, Director of Organizing and Partnerships at EmpowerED Families, to unpack what school choice looks like across Indiana—and how families can make the most of it.

With over two decades of experience as an educator, advocate, and mom, Kim shares how families can navigate Indiana’s evolving K–12 landscape, from understanding new high school diploma options to partnering effectively with schools. She also highlights the importance of asking the right questions, staying engaged, and knowing what resources are available to help families find the best educational fit.

Whether you’re a parent, guardian, or advocate, this conversation offers practical insights on how informed families help drive student success.

Key Takeaways:

🔑 Parents are essential partners in their child’s education—and their voice matters.

📚 Indiana’s school landscape is changing, with new diploma pathways and expanded choice options.

💬 Knowing what to ask schools helps families make better, more informed decisions.

🌟 When families are engaged, schools and communities benefit.

🎧 This episode is packed with real-world advice for navigating school choice and ensuring every Indiana student has an opportunity to thrive.

🔗 Discover how Indiana’s school choice options can work for your family at myschooloptions.org
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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 42 - From Scholarship to Scholar: Daion Daniels’ Story Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

In this inspiring episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan sit down with Indianapolis native and rising education reform leader, Daion L. Daniels. His journey from a low‑income public school student to earning a PhD in Education Policy is proof of what’s possible when students have access to the right educational fit.

Daion’s story begins in Indiana’s public schools, where he often felt academically unchallenged. That changed when his mother discovered the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, opening the door to a college‑prep Catholic high school. The academic rigor, supportive environment, and faith‑based values he encountered there set him on a path to college, advanced research, and a career in shaping education policy at the state and national level.

Now, as the youngest ever PhD graduate from the University of Arkansas’ Department of Education Reform, Daion researches how private school choice impacts civic engagement, political tolerance, and long‑term student success. His work directly informs policymakers, helping states design programs that expand opportunity, strengthen civic life, and deliver measurable results for students.

🎧 More than just a personal success story, this episode is about how thoughtful policy—grounded in real‑world experience—can transform both individual lives and the future of education.

Key Takeaways:

Educational Access Changes Trajectories: How a voucher opened the door to academic challenge, supportive mentors, and future leadership.
Policy Grounded in Experience: Why Daion’s firsthand journey makes his research especially powerful for lawmakers and advocates.
Civic Engagement & Open‑Mindedness: Insights from his studies on how private and faith‑based schools prepare students for democratic life.
Indiana as a Policy Model: How Indiana’s evolution from income‑limited vouchers to universal school choice offers lessons for other states.
Looking Ahead: Daion’s vision for increasing capacity, transparency, and opportunity in education policy.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, policymaker, or advocate, this conversation will deepen your understanding of why educational freedom matters—and how policy leadership can make it a reality for every child.

🔗 Discover how Indiana’s school choice options can work for your family at myschooloptions.org
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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 41 - Breaking Down Indiana’s Latest ILEARN Test Results Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Sarah Milligan and Cesar Roman break down the newly released 2025 ILEARN test scores—what they reveal, why they matter, and how parents can use them to make informed school choices for their children.

ILEARN, Indiana’s statewide assessment, measures how well students are meeting state academic standards in English Language Arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies. The 2025 results show encouraging progress in math proficiency, with 42.1% of students meeting the mark—a steady climb since 2021. ELA scores, however, remained largely unchanged at 40.6% proficiency. In fact, 7th and 8th grade performance slipped slightly, signaling ongoing challenges in middle school literacy development.

The Indiana Department of Education is also rolling out a new “through-year” ILEARN model beginning in 2025–26, which will include checkpoints in the fall, winter, and spring to give families and educators more actionable data throughout the year.

Key Takeaways:

Math scores are on the rise across all grade levels—8th grade saw the biggest jump.
ELA remains flat overall, with declines in 7th and 8th grade performance.
Subgroup success stories: Special education, low-income, Black, and Hispanic students are making important gains.
Through-year testing will provide families with real-time insight into student progress.
Parents have options: Use ILEARN data alongside your instincts to explore public, charter, private, online, or hybrid school options.

🎧 Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or policymaker, this episode equips you with the knowledge to interpret ILEARN scores and use them as a tool for finding the right educational fit for your child.

🔗 Discover how Indiana’s school choice options can work for your family at myschooloptions.org

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 40 - Empowered by Options: One Mom’s Education Story Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan sit down with Indiana parent and advocate, Talisha Evans, to hear how one family's determination—and Indiana’s school choice programs—helped her son transform from struggling to thriving.

Talisha’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. From a surprise pregnancy after a cancer diagnosis to navigating confusing diagnoses, classroom challenges, and school changes, Talisha shares her hard-won wisdom with courage and clarity. Despite setbacks—including schools that dismissed her concerns and an IEP that didn’t deliver—Talisha refused to give up. Her search led her to a specialized school for students with autism, and ultimately to the Indiana Choice Scholarship and Education Scholarship Account (ESA) programs that made it all possible.

🎧 This is more than a story about school choice—it’s about fighting for your child and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

Key Takeaways:

The Power of Persistence: Talisha’s story proves parents know their kids best—and must advocate boldly when something feels off.
IEPs Aren’t Enough Alone: Real change came not from paperwork, but from a school that truly understood and supported Aiden.
Choice Scholarship & ESA Access: Learn how Indiana's programs helped Talisha afford a school designed specifically for her son’s needs.
A System for All Students: Talisha reminds listeners that school choice isn’t just for children with special needs—her other children also benefit from customized options.
From Isolation to Inclusion: Aiden’s transformation includes making real friends, building confidence, and even being honored by the Indiana Pacers.

🔗 Discover how Indiana’s school choice options can work for your family at myschooloptions.org

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 39 - What Rep. McGuire Wants Every Parent to Know Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan are joined by Indiana State Representative Julie McGuire—a lawmaker, mother of four, and passionate school choice advocate—to explore how Indiana is setting the national standard for educational freedom.

From explaining how Indiana’s $9 billion K-12 budget funds students (not systems), to sharing her family’s personal journey through private, public, and charter schools, Rep. McGuire offers both a policymaker’s insight and a parent’s heart. Her experience—adopting two children, one from Ukraine who arrived with no English—highlights just how critical it is for families to have flexible, personalized school options.

Gain a firsthand look at how Indiana’s funding formula works, why the state is removing income caps on Choice Scholarships, and what universal school choice will mean for Hoosier families starting in the 2026–27 school year.

Key Takeaways:

Indiana Prioritizes Families: Nearly 50% of the state budget goes to K–12 education—and funding follows the student, not the system.
Universal Choice Is Here: Beginning in 2026–27, all Hoosier students will be eligible for Choice Scholarships with no income cap or enrollment limit.
School Choice in Action: McGuire’s children have attended public, private, and charter schools—each chosen to match their unique needs.
The Power of Research: Tools like Indiana GPS and school visits help parents find the right educational fit for their child.
Parental Engagement Matters: Success comes when parents and educators work as a team—and McGuire urges all families to stay involved.

🎧 This episode shows how education transforms when policy puts families first and students at the center.

🔗 Learn more about school choice options in Indiana at myschooloptions.org

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 38 - Inside Indiana’s Newest Classical School Option Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, host Sarah Milligan sits down with Mollie Crummey, board president of the newly launched Chesterton Academy of St. Scholastica in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A homeschooling mom of seven with a background in financial risk analysis, Mollie shares the inspiring story behind launching one of Indiana’s most exciting new school choice options.

Tune in as they explore what it takes to start a classical high school from the ground up—and why Fort Wayne families are responding with enthusiasm. From curriculum to community building to the surprising benefits of school vouchers, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration for anyone passionate about educational freedom.

Key Takeaways:

Launching a Classical High School from Scratch: Mollie details the practical steps she took—from fundraising $275,000 to leasing space from a local airport—to open Chesterton Academy and bring a classical, values-driven curriculum to her community.
Why Classical Education Matters: Discover how time-tested teaching methods like Socratic discussion and a curriculum rooted in the great books are helping students develop not just academically, but emotionally and spiritually.
Parents as Partners in Education: Mollie explains how the academy was designed as a true extension of the home, giving families a trusted, mission-aligned option for high school.
Making School Choice Accessible: Learn how the school joined Indiana’s voucher program without compromising its religious values or classical approach—opening the door for more families to access a high-quality private education.
Looking Ahead: With growth already underway, hear Mollie’s vision for a flourishing future—and why she believes every community deserves an educational option that speaks to both the mind and the heart.
Don’t miss this powerful episode about reimagining education, empowering families, and passing on the values that shape the next generation.

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

Episode 37 - Inside the Kroc Center With Neil Carmichael Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, host Cesar Roman sits down with Neil Carmichael, Director of Arts and Education at the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in South Bend, Indiana. A celebrated music educator, composer, and community leader, Neil has helped transform the Kroc Center into a hub for accessible arts education and youth development.

Tune in as they discuss the programs that are connecting South Bend families to new opportunities—from after school and homeschool enrichment to innovative partnerships that make learning engaging and accessible for every student.

Key Takeaways:

Expanding Access Through the Arts: Neil shares how the Kroc Center is removing barriers for families in South Bend by offering free and low-cost music, dance, STEM, and art classes—powered by community grants and strategic partnerships.

Homeschool and After School University: Discover how these two flagship programs give students the chance to explore theater, hip hop dance, digital music, and more—all in a safe, supportive environment that encourages creativity and connection.

Building Bridges with Community Partners: Learn how relationships with local organizations—from housing authorities to universities like Notre Dame and Purdue—are helping expand educational opportunities and support services.

A Focus on the Whole Child: From character development to tutoring and youth leadership, Neil explains how the Kroc Center’s programs are helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Looking Ahead: Neil shares insights from a recent community survey and talks about future offerings in culinary arts, financial literacy, and technology education for seniors and young adults.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about the power of education, the importance of community, and why access to the arts matters more than ever.

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For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

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