School Choice gives parents more options

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The new school year is just around the corner and with Indiana's newly expanded school choice program, parents have more options and funding when it comes to their child's schooling.

Indiana's expanded school voucher bill says kids assigned to public schools with an 'F' grade from the state qualify for vouchers.

In South Bend, those schools are Warren Primary Center, Jackson Intermediate Center, Harrison Primary Center, Madison Primary Center, Monroe Primary Center, Muessel Primary Center and Perley Fine Arts Academy.

“He was in a private school and I had to pull him out because it just cost too much money,” said Tiffany Russell.

Russell had to pull her 11-year-old son out of Catholic school after the 2011-12 school year.

Now she worries about her youngest, 4-year-old Keagan, who will be entering school next year.

With the new rules in place, if she lives in an area where the public school her son must attend has an "F" grade from the state her kids qualify for vouchers for private schools.

Beatrice Haynes hopes the new changes could make the option of catholic or private schools more feasible for her family.

But with the increase scholarship amount only going up $200 from last year, sending her kids to private school still may not be an option.

http://www.schoolchoiceindiana.com/