More than 2,000 Call for Education Reform at Annual Indianapolis Rally

Governor Daniels, State Legislators, and Education Reform Advocates Celebrate Victories, Pledge to Fight for Additional Reforms

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education reform advocates joined more than 2,000 students and parents, as well as Governor Mitch Daniels and state legislators, in calling for expanded educational options at yesterday's "Ed Reform Rocks Rally" at the State Capitol.

The American Federation for Children—the nation's voice for school choice—hailed the rally as a celebration of the education victories that have taken place over the past year. Most prominent among them are the creation of the Choice Scholarship Program, a voucher program that gives scholarships to students from low- and middle-income families to attend the school of their parents' choice. The rally, which had the theme of "Demand Great Schools," also served as a call to action for Indiana families and education advocates to continue to fight for quality educational options for all students.

AFC senior advisor Kevin P. Chavous, who served as the event's master of ceremonies, cautioned that while it was important to celebrate school choice victories over the past year, there was still much work to do.

"While we're proud that thousands more families have access to a quality education, that's sadly still not the case for tens of thousands still waiting," said Chavous, a native of Indianapolis.  "We must continue to fight to ensure that all Hoosier students have access to a great school."

The Ed Reform Rocks Rally also recognized individuals, including Representative Robert Behning and Senator Scott Schneider, for their tireless effort in helping to expand school choice across the state.

A broad coalition of education reform groups helped organize the rally. Among them were School Choice Indiana, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Stand for Children, Education Reform Now, the Indiana Public Charter School Association, StudentsFirst, and Indiana Virtual School Families.

In addition to enacting the Choice Scholarship Program—which boasted the highest first-year enrollment of any voucher program in history—legislators expanded the state's scholarship tax credit program in 2011. This school year, more than 4,000 students participated in Indiana's two private school choice programs.

SOURCE American Federation for Children

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