We break down the responses of Indiana school parents from all sectors to a survey—developed by EdChoice and conducted by Hanover Research—that aims to measure what motivates them to choose K–12 schools, their children’s schooling experiences, their awareness of school choice options, their satisfaction levels and the goals they set for their children’s education. Flip through to gather the key findings you need to know from this new research. Get the full report at www.edchoice.org/WhyINParentsChoose

1. edchoice.org/WhyINParentsChoose
BREAKING DOWN
WHY INDIANA
PARENTS CHOOSE
A Cross-Sector Survey of Parents' Views in a
Robust School Choice Environment

2. As Congress and dozens of states
consider private school choice programs,
policymakers and the public look to
the performance of Indiana’s two
historic programs.
OHIOEDUCATIONAL
CHOICE
SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM
ONSIN
AL NEEDS
LARSHIP
GRAM
INDIANA
CHOICE
SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM
INDIANA
SCHOOL
SCHOLARSHIP
TAX CREDIT
GEORGIA
QUALIFIED
EDUCATION
EXPENSE
TAX CREDIT
IOWA
SCHOOL
TUITION
ORGANIZATIO
TAX CREDI

3. Though many turn to student test scores to
determine the success or failure of a program…
U.S. Voucher Experiments: Reading and Math Impacts by Year
Overall Treatment On the Treated Impacts by Year — U.S. Voucher Randomized Control Trials
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-0.1
21 3 4+
Source: Shakeel, Anderson, & Wolf, “U.S. Voucher Experiments: Reading Impacts by Year” and “U.S. Voucher Experiements: Math
Impacts by Year”
EFFECTSIZE(SD)
YEAR OF TREATMENT
Math Reading

4. …many more focus on reports of
parents’ experiences in a robust
school choice environment.
WHY INDIANA
PARENTS CHOOSE
A Cross-Sector Survey of Parents’ Views in a
Robust School Choice Environment
Andrew D. Catt
Evan Rhinesmith, Ph.D.

5. In this report, authors Andrew
D. Catt and Dr. Evan Rhinesmith
examine the responses of Indiana
school parents from all sectors to a
survey—developed by EdChoice and
conducted by Hanover Research—that
aims to measure:

6. what motivates them
to choose schools

7. their children’s schooling
experiences

8. their awareness of school
choice options

9. their satisfaction levels

10. and the goals they set for
their children’s education.

11. WHAT THEY
FOUND

12. Parents who use Indiana’s private school choice
programs are overwhelmingly satisfied.
Completely Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatsified Neither Satisfied
nor Dissatisfied
Somewhat Satisfied Completely Satisfied
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
Indiana Parents’ Satisfaction with School Choice Program
5%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship
2% 3% 2%
6%
13%
24%
38%
45%
62%

13. Notably, school choice parents also are
significantly more likely than district school
parents to report being somewhat or completely
satisfied with their children’s current schools.
• 89 percent of out-of-pocket private school parents
• 81 percent of voucher parents
• 81 percent of charter school parents
• 79 percent of tax-credit scholarship parents
• 74 percent of district school parents

14. Parents who use Indiana’s private school
choice programs find it easy to find and enroll
in their schools of choice.
Very Difficult Somewhat Difficult Neither Easy
nor Difficult
Somewhat Easy Very Easy
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0
Ease of Finding a School for Indiana School Choice Parents
5%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship
6%
12%
21%
17%
22%
20%
29%
21%
45%

15. Awareness of Indiana’s school choice
programs, especially among public
district and charter school
parents, is low.

16. More than a third of parents not participating in a
program said they haven’t opted to use Indiana’s
private school choice programs because they
were unaware the programs existed.
Reasons Families Aren’t Using Indiana’s Private School
Choice Programs
Unaware of the programs
Happy with the school their child attends
Family does not qualify for the programs
Want to support their public schools
34%
32%
27%
17%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

17. Worse, families that would qualify
didn’t know Indiana’s school
choice programs existed.
• 34 percent of all parents not participating
• 51 percent of low-income* district school parents
*low-income was classified as households under $45,601 for purposes of this survey, and families
of four making $45,510 or less in 2017–18 qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program

18. Interestingly, the majority of parents would be
very or extremely likely to participate in Indiana’s
voucher or tax-credit scholarship programs if
they qualified or if the award covered the
full amount of tuition.
• 78% of out-of-pocket private school parents
• 60% of charter school parents
• 56% of district school parents

19. When considering which schools to choose, parents
tend to trust the opinions of their friends or
relatives or church the most.
Friends or Relatives
Church
Internet
Public District
(Neighborhood) School
Community Event
35%
37%
15%
16%
13%
9%
12%
9%
5%
6%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship
0% 15%5% 10% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Indiana Parents’ Most Trusted Source for Learning
About Schools of Choice

20. Most families that stop using Indiana’s private school
choice programs do so because eligibility restrictions
push them out or their children simply graduate.
Still participating
My family no longer meets eligibility requirements
Offered a Choice Scholarship (voucher) but chose not to use
Offered a School Scholarship (SGO Scholarship) but chose not to use
Open-ended responseThe child participating in the program graduated
Reasons Former Indiana School Choice Parents No
Longer Use School Choice Programs
85%
6%
5%
<1%
1%
3%

21. The majority of former program participants
now send their children to public schools.
Transferred to a public district (neighborhood) school
Remained in the same private school
Transferred to a public charter school
Transferred to a different private school
Switched to being homeschooled
36%
29%
19%
13%
3%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Where Students Who Left Indiana Voucher and Tax-Credit
Scholarship Programs Now Attend School

22. If Indiana’s voucher program didn’t exist, the majority of
current voucher parents said they would send their children to
public schools, which contradicts the Indiana Department of
Education’s assertion that all voucher students would attend
private school regardless of whether or not the program existed.
A public district (neighborhood) school
The same private school
A public charter school
Homeschooled
A different private school
39%
45%
34%
29%
12%
13%
6%
8%
9%
6%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Where Indiana Parents Would Send Their Children to
School If They Were Not Participating in School
Choice Programs

23. Advocates and opponents alike
have wondered how school choice
affects parent involvement.

24. At least half of parents who use Indiana’s private school
choice programs say they are more involved in their
children’s schooling now than they were in
their previous schools.
Communicating with Teachers
Participate in School Activites
Work on Math or Arithmetic
Volunteering/Community Service
Use an Online Educational Resource
5%
5% 7% 27% 26% 35%
5% 9% 31% 27% 28%
5% 7% 32% 25% 30%
7% 12% 32% 26% 23%
9% 25% 25% 36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Indiana Parents’ Activity Levels in Their Voucher and
Scholarship Schools Compared to Their Previous Schools
Much Less Often Less Often A Similar Amount More Often Much More Often

25. Nearly half of parents using Indiana’s private school choice programs
have taken on another job to support their children’s education.
Taken on a part-time or other job
for additional income
Changed your job
Taken out a new loan
None of the above
46%
30%
19%
20%
47%
25%
20%
18%
25%
32%
18%
11%
4%
5%
17%
34%
55%
68%
62%
28%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship Non-Choice Private District Charter
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Things Indiana School Parents Have Done to Support
Their Children’s K–12 Education

26. District parents are least likely to significantly change their daily
routines, enlist the help of family or friends or pay for tutoring
and other services to support their children’s education.
Helped with homework at least
one night per week
Significantly changed your daily
routine
Have a family member or friend
help look after a child
Paid for before-or after-care
services for a child
62%
83%
80%
85%
68%
41%
45%
37%
53%
42%
42%
37%
35%
41%
38%
27%
42%
28%
45%
33%
Paid for transporting your child
to/from school
26%
22%
17%
27%
28%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship Non-Choice Private District Charter
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Things Indiana School Parents Have Done for At Least Four Months of a
School Year to Support Their Children’s K–12 Education
None of the above
7%
6%
10%
6%
3%

27. That said, most parents agree when it comes
to what they want their children to
get out of school.
94%
95%
91%
94%
91%
90%
90%
90%
89%
88%
Believes they can succeed academically
Learns strong verbal and written
communication skills
Learns good study habits and self-discipline
Develops strong critical thinking skills
Develops a strong moral code of conduct
92%
92%
91%
91%
87%
94%
94%
94%
95%
94%
84%
83%
85%
85%
83%
87%
88%
87%
85%
86%
Top 5 Educational Goals School Parents Deem of High Importance
Educational Goal
Non-Choice
Private
Tax-Credit
Scholarship
Sample
Average
CharterDistrictVoucher

28. Another similarity across sectors of school parents?
Their reasons for leaving...
Not enough
individual attention
Academic quality
Problems with
teachers/administrators
Problems with other students
(e.g. bullying)
12%
49%
36%
18%
38%
34%
15%
40%
25%
Lack of religious environment/
value instruction
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Top 5 Influences that Inspired Indiana Parents’ Decision to Switch Schools
12%
34%
25%
1%
1%
24%
Non-Choice Private District Charter

29. ...and choosing schools are unique and personal.
5 Most Important Reasons Indiana Parents Choose a School
Academics
Safe environment
Morals/character/
values instruction
Religious
environment/instruction
Small classes
15%
30%
<1%
<1%
23%
25%
24%
11%
19%
18%
11%
19%
2%
9%
13%
13%
6%
6%
10%
8%
4%
5%
3%
9%
7%
Voucher Tax-Credit Scholarship Non-Choice Private District Charter
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

30. For more findings from
this report, visit
EDCHOICE.ORG/WhyINParentsChoose
Have questions?
Contact our research team
at research@edchoice.org.