Gary’s Ambassador Christian Academy, which has received nearly $3 million in state money since 2014, can no longer accept state voucher money for new students because of two straight years of D grades.
The school is seeking a waiver Wednesday from the State Board of Education so it can once again receive state money for new students. It still receives money for existing students.
The board will consider Ambassador’s request for a waiver for the 2018-19 school year at its 8:30 a.m. meeting in Indianapolis. The state Department of Education opposed the waiver.
Last year, the board approved waivers for four voucher schools with failing grades.
In a letter requesting the waiver, new Principal Danielle Graham-Harris said the school of about 200 students, is showing growth in English and math and it’s made several changes to bolster its academic performance.
Graham-Harris said she joined the religious-based school last fall, replacing former principal Vercena Stewart. Graham-Harris said she’s been an educator for 18 years and holds an Illinois administrator license and is working to attain an Indiana license.
She also said in her letter that 30 percent of the teaching staff has been replaced with Indiana-certified teachers, while the remaining 70 percent have been given one year to obtain an Indiana license or show they’re enrolled in an accredited teaching program that leads to licensure.
She said the school submitted a new improvement plan to the Department of Education in September and it’s established a partnership with the Gary Community School Corp. to use Title 1 federal money to provide instruction for low-performing students through a Catapult Learning program.
Indiana launched its voucher program called the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program in 2011 and quickly accelerated its funding from $16 million in 2014 to $40 million in 2015.
It funnels money to income-qualified parents who can send their children to a private school of their choice. Lawmakers removed an enrollment cap in 2015.
During the 2016-17 school year, 34,299 students were enrolled, making it the largest voucher program in the country. Last year, the state spent $146 million on the voucher program.
Department of Education records show Ambassador Academy received $991,996 in 2014-15; $1,003,858 in 2015-16 and $928,125 in 2016-17. There were 154 students listed as using the Choice Scholarship in 2016-17. Of that number, 130 migrated from the Gary Community School Corp.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
