Seven School Choice Success Stories in Seven Days: Elias

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 28, 2014) – To celebrate National School Choice week, the American Federation for Children, the nation’s voice for educational choice, is sharing stories of individuals whose lives have been impacted by the power of educational choice.
Throughout the week, AFC will share seven success stories celebrating school choice.
Today’s story comes from Indianapolis, Ind. where we meet Elias.
Elias
Todd Academy
Indiana Scholarship Program

 
Elias is a 14 year old student, who has excelled despite many struggles in his life. Elias has Asberger’s syndrome and helps take care of his mother who also has Asberger’s along with other physical impairments.
Elias attended a public school, but struggled because he was so different from the other students. He is considered gifted and had difficulty interacting with other students at his school. His insecurities caused him to struggle academically. He once told his mother, “I don’t want to be gifted anymore, because none of the other kids are.” Elias’ mother did not want him to waste his talents, but they did not have the financial means to send him to a school tailored to his needs.
Elias and his mother took advantage of the Indiana Scholarship Program and received a voucher to attend the Todd Academy, a school specializing in gifted students with learning disabilities. There Elias is thriving and truly loves his new school saying, “[My] school is more than a school. It’s a community.”

The Indiana Scholarship Program helps more than 20,000 children realize their dreams by empowering parents to choose the best school for their child. To learn more about the Indiana Scholarship Program visit School Choice Indiana.

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The American Federation for Children is the nation’s leading school choice advocacy organization and works in states across the country to help secure additional, high-quality educational options for families.
Kevin P. Chavous is a noted attorney, author, and national school reform leader. A former member of the Council of the District of Columbia and a former chairman of D.C.’s Education Committee, Chavous was responsible for enacting numerous education reforms in D.C. Chavous also presides as board chair for Democrats for Education Reform and is a former chair of the Black Alliance for Educational Options.