Education Matters With MySchoolOptions

In this episode of Education Matters, Danville attorney and mom Corinne Youngs shares her journey to launch St. Gianna Classical Academy—a Christ-centered classical hybrid school in Hendricks County. Corinne explores the motivations behind the project, rising interest in faith-based and classical models, and the real work it takes to start a new school.

Episode Highlights

Why Start a New School?Corinne describes limited private school options in Danville and Avon, and her desire for strong faith formation, academic rigor, and more family time—needs not met by area schools.

Inspiration & Early StepsAfter seeing classical and hybrid schools elsewhere and finding unused church classrooms, Corinne felt called to act.

What Is a Classical Hybrid Model?Students attend classes two days per week with teachers and learn at home with their parents three days weekly. The approach emphasizes faith, classic literature, memorization, and lifelong learning.

Parent Priorities: Faith, Rigor & Less TechFamilies want faith formation, academic excellence, real community, and minimal classroom technology. Corinne’s model intentionally limits tech for deeper learning and childhood experiences.

Grassroots FoundationCorinne is building from scratch with calls, spreadsheets, and help from a skilled board mostly from her church. Securing space and like-minded people have been crucial.

The VisionSt. Gianna aims to develop not just minds, but character, virtue, and faith—preparing kids for life and beyond.

Biggest ChallengesFinding teachers is the biggest hurdle, but the hybrid model may attract retired educators and those seeking part-time, meaningful work.

Get InvolvedInterested families can connect via Facebook/Instagram, attend virtual info sessions, or join volunteer groups.

Key Takeaway:Launching new educational options is hard but crucial. Start small, invite others to help, and take one step at a time—Corinne’s advice for anyone inspired to make a difference.

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For more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

In this episode of Education Matters, Greg Harrell breaks down Indiana’s latest iLearn results, explaining the transition to a new system of ongoing checkpoints and how this change marks 2026 as a new baseline for measuring student achievement. The discussion covers shifts in assessment, the impact on students and schools, private school performance, and how parents and teachers can use more frequent data to support student success.

Episode Highlights

What is iLearn?

Greg Harrell explains that iLearn is Indiana’s statewide assessment for grades 3–8, covering math, English, science, and social studies. The test informs both state and federal accountability efforts.

New Checkpoints System

iLearn now features three checkpoints spread across the academic year instead of a single end-of-year test. This gives families and teachers real-time, actionable data to better support student progress.

2026: A New Baseline

Changes to test format and standards mean the 2026 results should not be directly compared to past years. This year sets a new foundation for monitoring success and guiding interventions.

Statewide Results

42% of students were proficient in English and 43% in math, highlighting both progress and the ongoing need for improvement in certain areas.

Improving with Data

Greg Harrell shares how better, faster data helped reduce the number of 3rd graders struggling to read—from 15,000 to 9,000—with targeted support and suggests similar approaches for math.

Insights for Parents

Parents now get more timely information about their child’s learning. Greg Harrell encourages families to check school data, engage with schools, and seek help as needed.

Educator Questions & Math Trends

With detailed data, educators can focus on closing achievement gaps—like lower math proficiency in higher grades—and advocate for more investment in math, similar to successful efforts in literacy.

Private School Performance

More than 225 non-public schools outperformed the state average in English language arts, and 7 of the top 10 schools were non-public, including 6 SGO scholarship partners.

Key Takeaway

The 2026 iLearn results set a new baseline for Indiana education. With more frequent checkpoints and faster, more actionable reporting, Greg Harrell urges parents to stay engaged, use the data, and collaborate with schools to foster meaningful progress for every student.

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For more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

In this episode of Education Matters, Chris Brunson, Associate Executive Director of the Indiana Non- Public Education Association (INPEA), joins us to dig into the behind-the-scenes work supporting Indiana’s private schools—from advocacy and compliance to school choice expansion. With a wealth of experience in both school operations and policy, Chris Brunson shares insights on navigating challenges, building successful schools, and ensuring families have access to educational opportunities that fit their needs.

Highlights

Career & Mission: Chris Brunson describes his path from commercial property consulting and international school work to a pivotal leadership role at INPEA, uniting passion and experience to serve Indiana schools and families.

School Operations: Drawing on years of hands-on experience, Chris Brunson explains the unique pressures and rewards of leading smaller non-public schools, noting the crucial role of local support, parent engagement, and investment (“skin in the game” from families and communities).

Challenges School Leaders Face: Key obstacles include aging facilities, evolving community demographics, severe teacher shortages, and regulatory burdens that impact school autonomy.

INPEA’s Role & Advocacy: The organization champions private schools by listening to school leaders’ needs, supporting advocacy at the Statehouse, offering professional development, and facilitating connections between schools and legislators.

School Choice Impact: The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program has enabled greater diversity and access, letting more families—regardless of income—find educational environments that fit their children’s needs and values.

Empowering Families: Chris Brunson stresses the importance of parents understanding that school choice is available to all Indiana families, often with substantial financial support.

Key Takeway

Indiana’s school choice landscape offers families meaningful options—but the most successful outcomes come when parents, schools, and communities are invested and informed. Whether in public or non-public schools, every family should feel empowered to choose the best environment for their child, with robust advocacy, support, and engagement paving the way for quality education across the state.

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For more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org

In this special episode of Education Matters, we highlight the inspiring stories from our recent podcast guests and their contribution to our Find Your Fit campaign. The conversation highlights the power of school choice, encouraging families to explore multiple options, visit schools, and engaging with staff and teacher to find the right environment for their child.

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In this episode of Education Matters, Indianapolis mom and educator Lisa Dailey shares how school choice transformed her daughter Maeve’s educational experience. Frustrated by a lack of support for Maeve—who has autism and ADHD—in public school, Lisa used Indiana’s school choice program to find a private school where Maeve could thrive both academically and socially. Lisa’s story is a testament to the critical impact of having educational options for every family.

Highlights

Family & School Struggles: Lisa, a mother of five, describes how Maeve and her brother transitioned from public school to private after Maeve’s needs weren’t met despite frequent behavioral issues and her diagnoses.

Advocacy & Frustration: Lisa pushed back against being told Maeve wasn’t a “big enough concern” for extra support, sharing the emotional toll on the family.

School Choice Success: With guidance from school choice advocates, Lisa found Gray Road Christian School, where smaller classes and supportive staff made a difference.

Transformative Outcomes: Maeve’s grades and confidence soared after repeating a grade and receiving individualized support; most importantly, she found real friendships.

Family Impact: The change brought more happiness, community, and excitement about school for the whole family.

Access & Advice: Financial aid through school choice made all the difference. Lisa urges parents to ask questions, take tours, and seek the right fit for their kids.

Final Message: Lisa encourages other parents to persist for their children’s needs—and calls on policymakers to continue supporting school choice.

Key Takeaway

School choice empowers families to find the best environment for their children to succeed. Lisa’s story proves that advocacy and accessible options can be life-changing for a child’s academic and social growth. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and explore—there’s a “right fit” out there for every student.

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For more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org