Church-based, private voucher school breaks ground on new $7.5M high school
05/16/2016

 

A Boone County Christian school participating in the state’s private school voucher program is building a new $7.5 million high school and athletic field. Traders Point Christian School has received nearly $2 million in tax dollars through the private school voucher program.

 

The Indy Star reports that Gov. Pence spoke at the school’s groundbreaking, congratulating school officials.

 

“It is such a blessing for me to be at a ground breaking with men and women who know that while a foundation will be poured here, as the old book says, no one can pour any foundation other than the one that’s already poured in Jesus Christ,” he said.

 

"In these uncertain times in which we live, I’m especially grateful to those of you who are willing to contribute and support the vibrant choice of Christian secondary education in the state of Indiana," he said. "It makes a difference and I thank you for making that choice available for children."

 

Despite voucher supporters’ assertions that the program helps students “escape” failing schools, Traders Point Christian School highlights the blatant falsehood of the claim.

 

The church-based, private school sits on the border of three public school districts – Brownsburg, Zionsville and Lebanon all of which are A-rated schools. The three school systems lost a total of $1.2 million just last year to school vouchers in their districts.

 

It appears the only choice happening in this area of the state is taxpayer supported religious education.

 

At the groundbreaking ceremony, the head of Traders Point Christian School credited the taxpayer funded voucher program for allowing their church to expand its school.

 

He attributed the rapid growth in part to the state’s private school voucher program for low- and middle-income students. The program provided 167 students at the school with $685,436 in tuition support during the current school year, according to a report from the Indiana Department of Education. Tuition at the school is about $10,000 a year.

 

Currently, a family of four in Indiana earning $89,725 per year can qualify for a taxpayer-financed voucher.

 

A report released last month from the Indiana Department of Education confirms Indiana’s private school voucher program has become the largest in the nation with nearly 33,000 vouchers issued in the 2015 – 16 school year. The program now costs taxpayers a record $135 million and a loss of $40 million.