Institute for Quality Education

Here’s the data on how our teachers, parents, and students feel about having cell phones in the classroom.

Cellphones: To Ban or Not to Ban? Why does this topic feel like a tug of war? What do we know from our own research on cellphones in school? We dig into the debate.

Today, the Institute for Quality Education joined U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Governor Mike Braun, and state leaders for the official signing of the "Returning Education to the States Waiver."

Indiana is proud to be just the third state in the nation—alongside Iowa and Louisiana—to secure this historic level of federal flexibility, shifting critical educational oversight away from Washington and back to Hoosier communities.

U of Indy working to solve STEM educator shortage.

The University of Indianapolis is launching a new program meant to help solve a critical shortage of STEM educators in Indiana.

MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/education/uindy-program-aims-to-to-help-solve-stem-educator-shortage-education-science-technology/531-622ebec0-7089-439d-9990-48062618a4c3?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WTHR-TV

Policy Perspective: School Choice is an Equity Tool.

True educational freedom means ensuring that every single student—regardless of background, race, or language barriers—has access to an environment where they can thrive.

The 2025 state assessment data reveal a critical narrative: Black, Hispanic, and English Learner students performed best at Choice-participating schools.

For decades, traditional system boundaries have inadvertently locked achievement gaps in place based on housing wealth. By allowing state tuition support to follow the child, Indiana has broken that link. Specialized instruction, strong school cultures, and high expectations are helping minority and multilingual scholars outpace expectations.

Data Insight: Third grade reading proficiency is one of the most reliable predictors of long-term academic success. When we look at the latest 2025 IREAD results, the data demonstrates that Indiana's Choice-participating schools are setting a remarkable benchmark for excellence.

97% Overall Pass Rate: Choice-participating schools achieved a 97% proficiency rate, outperforming the traditional public school average of 87%.

Academic Excellence: An incredible 136 Choice-participating schools across Indiana achieved a perfect 100% passing rate.

When state leaders protect and expand educational freedom, they aren’t just expanding options—they are opening doors to proven, high-performing academic environments.

FACT CHECK: Don't let the opposition twist the numbers on Indiana's Choice Scholarship.

The reality? Indiana's program is designed to protect taxpayers and support families. Vouchers cover up to 90% of state tuition support OR the full cost of private tuition—whichever is less.

Because of this, roughly 21,300 Indiana students had their private school tuition covered 100% IN FULL this past year.

For thousands of other families, this $6,500+ scholarship is a bridge, making a school that was previously out of reach finally affordable. That isn't an illusion. These are real families with real stories.

When the Choice Scholarship Program was established in 2011, the primary goal was providing immediate relief to low-income families in underperforming environments. But over the last decade and a half, advocates and families proved a broader truth: every child deserves a customized education.

Because of your sustained advocacy, "school choice" is no longer just a program—it is a standard expectation for Indiana families. Today, over 370 non-public schools participate statewide, making specialized curricula, language immersion, and unique learning environments accessible to communities from South Bend to Evansville.

Greg has a passion for work-based learning. Listen to this episode and get all the details on how Indiana is changing the high school experience.

Curious how Indiana is transforming education for the Class of 2029 and beyond?Tune into our latest episode that breaks down new graduation requirements, the power of readiness seals, and exciting real-world experiences for every student! 🚀🛠️

👩‍🎓 Explore new pathways
🤝 Connect classroom to career
🏆 Hear from statewide leaders

Listen now to see how schools, employers & communities are creating meaningful futures!

🔗 Don’t miss this episode! : https://bit.ly/4uSTy07

When the General Assembly eliminated the final income restrictions, Indiana officially became the 17th state in the nation to enact Universal School Choice. This milestone wasn't reached overnight—it was the result of a deliberate, data-driven, 15-year legislative effort to ensure that a child's educational fit is never limited by their household budget.

To our legislative partners and advocates who have championed this journey since 2011: thank you for keeping Indiana a national leader in educational freedom. Let's keep building.

School choice has the momentum.

School choice is winning. It’s time to double down In the 1990s, I asked Milton Friedman how I should approach charitable giving. His answer was to invest in school choice, a concept he had invented decades earlier. At the time, school choice barely existed. Now, it’s exploding. Friedman’s advice was right on — my bet has paid off. Now, it is ...