Expansion of Choice Participation Benefits Families and the School

After careful consideration, the International School of Indiana is pleased to announce its participation in Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program (Voucher Program) to all eligible grade levels. This expands the participation from the Upper School to the Lower School, making participation possible for eligible families with Kindergarten through Grade 12 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

There has been a growing need for ISI to reconsider its participation in the program, which initially began with the ISI High School, because of the changing landscape for School Choice in Indiana and because of the growth of ISI’s financial aid program. 

Expansion of School Choice Scholarship

New legislation in 2023 from the State of Indiana made approximately 97% of all Indiana families eligible for a School Choice Scholarship, also known as the voucher program. In 2024-2025, estimated vouchers for ISI students can range from approximately $6,000 to $7,300 per student per school year based on your household size and income, as well as the school district in which you reside. 

As the High School was already participating in the program, the Upper School team was able to expand participation to include the Middle School for this school year. Still, a more cautious approach was applied to the proposed expansion to the Lower School to ensure that the unique approach to education, pairing language learning with the Primary Years Program, would remain the same through participation in the program. Though there are requirements the school must adhere to, including participation in ILEARN Testing that will replace the spring NWEA testing, ISI is moving forward with confidence in our ability to maintain autonomy in the curriculum we provide.

ISI Financial Aid 

As a relatively young school, ISI has no endowment, meaning the majority of financial aid offered by the school reflects an unfunded tuition discount, coming directly from the institution's gross revenue rather than financial aid backed by endowed scholarships or grants. Prior to the pandemic, the financial aid program marked 19% of the school's budget, but 2020 exacerbated the need, and it has continued to grow at an unsustainable pace, currently reflecting 31% of the school’s budget. Creating a sustainable funding source for financial aid has been a top strategic priority of school leaders, and participation in the Choice program provides a partial but critical funding source for the financial aid program. With expanded participation in Choice, an estimated 76% of the financial aid recipients at ISI will receive funded or partially funded financial aid, an increase from the current rate of 24%.

Impact for ISI Families and Prospective Families

ISI applies for the Indiana Choice Scholarship on your behalf to the State. 

For families already receiving financial aid awards from ISI, the overall total award will not change unless the voucher amount exceeds the current aid award. The Registrar works directly with those families and keeps families informed of the status and any additional documentation needed for their Choice application.

Families who are NOT currently receiving financial aid awards at ISI are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements, as 97% of Indiana families are estimated to qualify. If you believe that you qualify, you do not need to apply for financial aid, but you will complete the ISI Choice Scholarship Eligibility Form with an upload of your 2023 federal tax returns (1040). ISI will apply for Choice on your behalf if you qualify, and you will receive a notification from the school confirming eligibility and your adjusted tuition rate. Qualifying families should complete the ISI Choice Scholarship Eligibility Form not later than August 16; however, they are encouraged to complete the form by May 31 so that their tuition bill reflects the Choice award and modified tuition obligation.