Shawe and Pope John Support House Bill 1005

Indiana House Bills 1005 and 1001, both of which seek to expand educational opportunities for Hoosier families through the school choice program.

(Madison, Ind.) - During their monthly meeting in March, Prince of Peace Catholic Schools Commission reviewed Indiana House Bills 1005 and 1001, both of which seek to expand educational opportunities for Hoosier families through the school choice program.

“We feel it’s important for us to not only express our support of this legislation but also to help educate the community about its importance and the impact it could have on increasing educational options to many middle-class families,” stated board President Jen Clayton.

If passed, this legislation will greatly extend income eligibility to the middle-class families who are struggling to afford a choice in their own child’s education. This is especially true for those families with multiple children. Under the proposed changes in eligibility, a police officer married to a schoolteacher, both earning average wages in Indiana, could for the first time have their child participate in the program.

“This is a great opportunity to open up education choices for so many more families in Indiana to truly choose where they feel is the best education option for their children. Education is such an important decision for all families and our communities. This has forced all schools, public and private, to up the quality of education that is provided,” says Shawe and Pope John President Phil Kahn.

In addition to expanding income thresholds, the bill would also increase eligibility for children in the foster care system, as well as the scholarship amount a qualifying student receives. Finally, it would create an Education Savings Account (ESA) for special needs children, children in foster care and children of military families. ESAs allow parents to take control of their child’s education by receiving their student’s support funding through a savings account that can be used for pre-approved educational expenses such as therapies, tutoring, tuition and fees.

The legislation passed the Indiana House last month, and it has now moved to the Senate for consideration. We hope that many families will reach out to their Senators and show their support and how it will positively impact their families and education overall. For more information, please refer to the Indiana General Assembly website at http://iga.in.gov/.