Education Matters With MySchoolOptions

• Episode 43 - Empowering Parents: Navigating Indiana School Choice

  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.orgDid you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

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• Episode 42 - From Scholarship to Scholar: Daion Daniels’ Story

  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.orgDid you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

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• Episode 41 - Breaking Down Indiana’s Latest ILEARN Test Results

  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 Did you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

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• Episode 40 - Empowered by Options: One Mom’s Education Story

  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 Did you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

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• Episode 39 - What Rep. McGuire Wants Every Parent to Know

  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 Did you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

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