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Dear OLMC Parents,
As we continue preparing for the 2026–2027 school year, I would like to provide a clear and detailed update regarding our participation in the Indiana School Choice Scholarship Program and what this means for your family.
Over the past 18 months, our parish and school community have engaged in a thorough and prayerful discernment process. This included consultation with our Parish Leadership Team, Finance Council, School Council, Parish Council, diocesan leadership, and input from parishioners and school families. Based on this work, we have decided to participate in the School Choice Scholarship Program beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
As of today, we have submitted our application as a school and have no reason to believe we will not be granted 'approved' status. Given this, we have decided not to delay further in communicating about re-registration for the upcoming school year. Watch your email Wednesday, April 29 for your link to the Bio-Update forms to complete your registration for the 2026/27 school year. The email will come from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com
What Is the Choice Scholarship Program
A Choice Scholarship is a scholarship provided by the State of Indiana to help cover the cost of tuition at a non-public school.
Beginning in 2026–2027, Indiana has moved to universal eligibility, meaning all families qualify for a scholarship regardless of income.
The scholarship amount is determined by the public school district in which a student resides. As a result, scholarship amounts will vary from family to family.
Why OLMC Is Participating
This decision is grounded in our mission and our responsibility to ensure long-term sustainability for our school.
Participation in the program allows us to:
- Maintain accessibility for parish families
- Strengthen our ability to plan responsibly for the future
- Allow the parish to more fully invest in its broader mission, including evangelization, ministry growth, and future facility needs
- Continue to strengthen our ability to form students in faith and academic excellence
Our Catholic identity, parish-based admissions, and stewardship expectations remain unchanged.
Tuition and the “Share” Model
For the 2026–2027 school year, tuition will be set at:
Each student’s tuition will be supported through three components:
1.Choice Scholarship Share
- Based on the student’s public school district of residence
- Varies by location
2.Parish Stewardship Share
- $1,465 per student
- Funded through parish stewardship and applied equally to all students
3.Per Student Share
- The remaining balance after the scholarship and parish shares are applied
The Parish Stewardship Share has been carefully determined to keep the Per Student Share close to $600 per student, which is slightly lower than our traditional book bill. The 2025-2026 (current year) book bills ranged from approximately $700-$900.
Examples of Per Student Share by District
To help illustrate how this works, below are examples using Estimated Choice Scholarship amounts.
Assumptions for both examples:
- Tuition: $8,500
- Parish Stewardship Share: $1,465
Carmel Clay Schools Example (approximately 53% of OLMC school families):
- Tuition: $8,500
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Estimated Choice Scholarship: ~$6,395
- Parish Stewardship Share: $1,465
- Estimated Per Student Share: ~$640
Westfield Washington Schools Example (approximately 31% of OLMC families):
- Tuition: $8,500
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Estimated Choice Scholarship: ~$6,464
- Parish Stewardship Share: $1,465
- Estimated Per Student Share: ~$571
Important Notes Regarding These Estimates
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The Estimated Choice Scholarship amounts shown above are based on current projections from the State choice program.
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The State of Indiana will publish final scholarship amounts in February 2027.
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Historically, final scholarship amounts have been slightly higher, which results in a lower Per Student Share.
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To determine your Per Student Share, use the published estimates.
Payment Structure
To align with the timing of state funding, the Per Student Share will be collected in two payments:
- 50% due July 15, 2026
- 50% due in late February 2027
The second payment is scheduled for February because the State will release final scholarship amounts at that time. Based on historical trends, we anticipate that the final scholarship amount will be slightly higher than the estimate, which would result in a lower remaining balance for families in February.
This approach allows us to avoid overcharging families and eliminates the need to issue refunds.
Important Clarification on Per Student Share
Due to School Choice program regulations, the parish is required to apply the same Parish Stewardship Share to all students. This means we are not able to adjust parish support on a per-student basis to create a uniform final payment.
Because the Choice Scholarship Share varies by public school district, the Per Student Share will also vary slightly depending on where a family resides.
- In most cases, these differences are minimal
- The structure was intentionally designed to keep costs as close as possible to approximately $600 per student
- Overall, this approach keeps family costs in line with, or below, what has historically been paid
Additional Program Details
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A Choice Scholarship is awarded per student, not per family
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Scholarship funds are sent directly to the school and applied to tuition
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Families will not need to submit financial information under universal eligibility
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OLMC will assist families by managing the application process during registration
What Will Not Change
- Our Catholic identity and mission
- Parish membership and stewardship expectations
- Our commitment to faith formation and academic excellence
- The role of stewardship in supporting the parish and school
As a parish, we remain committed to a culture of stewardship rooted in time, talent, and treasure. The Choice Scholarship Program supports tuition, but it does not replace the broader mission of the parish.
Next Steps
In the coming weeks, we will provide:
- Clear guidance during the registration and application process
- Parent information sessions
- Ongoing updates and communication
Our goal is to ensure that every family understands the process and feels supported throughout implementation.
Closing
We are grateful for your continued trust and partnership. This transition has been approached with great care, and we are confident that it strengthens our ability to serve our students and families while remaining faithful to our mission.
To ensure every family feels supported and informed, I will be available for an in-person meeting on Monday, May 11th from 6:00–7:00pm in the Junior High Science Room to answer any questions. I also encourage you to review the FAQs on our school website in advance.
Please continue to keep our school and parish in your prayers.
God bless,
Tim Fletcher
Principal
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School
School Choice Specialist & PowerSchool Tech Lead: Jennifer Seaman- seamanj@olmc1.org
School Choice Information: https://school.olmc1.org/schoolchoicescholarship
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