Education Matters With MySchoolOptions
Education Matters is a podcast that explores the journey of Indiana's families in making school choice decisions. The podcast covers the landscape of K-12 education in Indiana and aims to give a voice to innovative school leaders, parents, and stakeholders in the school choice community. The podcast will feature stories from parents, community builders, policymakers, and educators, providing insights into the impact of school choice on children's education.
Episodes
August 8, 2025 • 9 mins
In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Sarah Milligan and Cesar Roman break down the newly released 2025 ILEARN test scores—what they reveal, why they matter, and how parents can use them to make informed school choices for their children.
ILEARN, Indiana’s statewide assessment, measures how well students are meeting state academic standards in English Language Arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies. The 2025 results...
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July 25, 2025 • 31 mins
In this powerful episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan sit down with Indiana parent and advocate, Talisha Evans, to hear how one family's determination—and Indiana’s school choice programs—helped her son transform from struggling to thriving.
Talisha’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. From a surprise pregnancy after a cancer diagnosis to navigating confusing diagnoses, classroom challenges, a...
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July 11, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan are joined by Indiana State Representative Julie McGuire—a lawmaker, mother of four, and passionate school choice advocate—to explore how Indiana is setting the national standard for educational freedom.
From explaining how Indiana’s $9 billion K-12 budget funds students (not systems), to sharing her family’s personal journey through private, public, and ...
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June 27, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode, host Sarah Milligan sits down with Mollie Crummey, board president of the newly launched Chesterton Academy of St. Scholastica in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A homeschooling mom of seven with a background in financial risk analysis, Mollie shares the inspiring story behind launching one of Indiana’s most exciting new school choice options.
Tune in as they explore what it takes to start a classical high school from the ...
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June 13, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode, host Cesar Roman sits down with Neil Carmichael, Director of Arts and Education at the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in South Bend, Indiana. A celebrated music educator, composer, and community leader, Neil has helped transform the Kroc Center into a hub for accessible arts education and youth development.
Tune in as they discuss the programs that are connecting South Bend families to new opportunities—from...
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May 23, 2025 • 19 mins
In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan unpack Indiana’s bold new redesign of the high school diploma.
With student needs and workforce demands rapidly evolving, Indiana's 2025 legislation marks a turning point for K-12 education. These new diploma requirements aren’t just about credits—they’re about preparing students for real life. We’ll walk through what’s changing, why it matters, and how p...
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May 9, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan sit down with Betsy Wiley, President & CEO of the Institute for Quality Education, to unpack one of the most consequential legislative sessions for school choice in Indiana history.
Despite facing a surprise $2 billion budget shortfall, Indiana prevailed—delivering major wins for Hoosier families and students. From the miraculous passage of universal Choi...
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April 18, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode of Education Matters, host Cesar Roman sits down with Ely Page, Regional Organizing Director at My School Options, to uncover how school choice is transforming communities across Indiana.
From his deeply personal homeschooling background to his policy work during Indiana’s historic school choice expansion, Ely brings a unique lens to the evolving education landscape. His mission? Ensuring every family has the knowl...
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April 4, 2025 • 29 mins
On this episode of Education Matters, host Sarah Milligan sits down with Taki Floutsis, Regional Organizing Director for MySchoolOptions, to explore the evolving landscape of school choice in Indiana. For Taki, education advocacy is more than a job—it’s personal. His own school choice journey fuels his passion for helping Indiana families navigate their options and find the best fit for their children.
Tune in as they discuss the ...
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March 21, 2025 • 31 mins
On this episode, host Sarah Milligan sits down with Indiana State Senator Jeff Raatz, Chair of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee. As a key legislator shaping the state’s education policies, Senator Raatz has been at the forefront of expanding school choice and strengthening career pathways for Indiana students.
Tune in as they discuss Indiana’s latest legislative advancements in education, including removing in...
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March 7, 2025 • 18 mins
Join our guest host, Betsy Wiley, as she is joined by Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston. Together they discuss Speaker Huston’s involvement in championing educational freedom and expanding school choice options for families across the state. From overcoming initial challenges to garnering public support for voucher programs, Speaker Huston shares his insights and experiences that have contributed to significant victories in the rea...
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On this episode of Education Matters, host Cesar Roman discusses the evolution of school choice with Indiana State Representative Robert Behning. From personal stories of choosing education paths to monumental legislative victories like the 2011 voucher bill, Cesar and Representative Behning discuss how these changes are reshaping the educational landscape. They dig further into the power of school choice, the role of parent advoca...
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February 19, 2025 • 10 mins
In this bonus episode, Sarah Milligan and Cesar Roman discuss the Nation's Report Card, also known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). They explore its significance as a comprehensive measure of student performance across the U.S., particularly focusing on Indiana's recent educational outcomes in reading and math. The conversation highlights the importance of NAEP in providing data for policymakers and educat...
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In this episode, join our host, Sarah Milligan, as she explores the potential impact of key legislative bills shaping Indiana's education landscape. Sarah and guest, Betsy Wiley, President and CEO of Institute for Quality Education discuss House Bills 1001, 1002, 1136, and 1636, which could transform education funding, regulation, and school choice options across the state. From the intricacies of creating a state budget to the cha...
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January 24, 2025 • 32 mins
On this episode of Education Matters, Sarah sits down to an inspiring conversation with Anastasia, a nurse, mother of six, and education advocate who has made a powerful impact on her children's schooling!
Anastasia discusses her journey in navigating various education options for her kids, leveraging school vouchers, and her proactive approach to ensuring her children receive the best education possible. She also emphasizes the i...
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January 6, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode of Education Matters, host Cesar Roman sits down with Mike McClain, a father, school principal, and dedicated supporter of school choice. As the principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School and a parent, Mike offers a distinctive viewpoint on the tangible effects of school choice. This discussion provides listeners with valuable insights into Mike's experiences as an educator, his advocacy for universal vouchers, and t...
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December 23, 2024 • 49 mins
On this episode of Education Matters, John Elcessar, Executive Director of Indiana Non-Public Education Association, Molly Collins, Executive Director of Policy and Government Affairs at IQE, and Cesar Roman, Director of Community Engagement for MySchoolOptions, dive deep into the transformative impact of the Indiana Choice Scholarship (Voucher) Program, highlighting its growth, the barriers families face, and the advocacy efforts ...
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December 2, 2024 • 20 mins
This conversation explores the role of the Institute for Quality Education (IQE) and its Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) in providing educational opportunities for families in Indiana. The discussion highlights the importance of Giving Tuesday, the impact of SGOs on school choice, and personal stories that illustrate the program's significance. Both Mary and Lori share insights on how families can access scholarships and ho...
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Ashley Robbins, the executive director of FIRST Indiana Robotics, discusses the world of robotics and the impact it has on students. She explains that robotics provides a safe space for students to be creative and explore their interests, regardless of their background or social skills. The robotics teams are mentor-driven and consist of students with various roles, such as coding, mechanical design, and marketing. The competitions...
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In this conversation, Sarah, Derrell, and Marc discuss the educational landscape in Indiana, focusing on the work of 50 Can, a campaign aimed at improving educational opportunities for all children. They explore the impact of COVID-19 on school choice and parental satisfaction, the purpose and methodology of their recent study on educational options, and the importance of mental health support in schools. The discussion highlights ...
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