Parents' Perceptions of School Change as a Result of Indiana's Voucher Program

The Indiana voucher program opened the door for families to attend private schools which would have otherwise been financially unattainable. The program has many implications for the enrollment patterns in Catholic schools in Indiana, bringing in a new population of students. Such enrollment changes may produce different dynamics within school communities. This study uses parent interview data to understand whether parents identify and associate changes in their schools with the voucher program. My findings indicate that parents identify changes in their attitudes toward the voucher program, as well as the academic quality, behavioral standards, and religiosity of their schools over time. These findings have implications for our understanding of how racial, religious, and class threat and contact play out in Catholic schools.