INDIANAPOLIS — House Republican leaders are eyeing St. Mary's Child Center in Indianapolis as a model pre-school as they look at how and where to pay for early childhood education.
House Speaker Brian Bosma and Education Chairman Robert Behning joined a group of lawmakers and St. Mary's board members on a tour of the school Wednesday afternoon. The House Education Committee is scheduled to discuss a pilot program for pre-school vouchers Thursday.
St. Mary's Executive Director Connie Sherman led the group on a tour of the pre-school Wednesday. She says it leads its students through project-based learning and draws from the Reggio Emilia teaching method stressing collaboration among children, teachers and parents.
She says most students come from low-income families and leave after two years better prepared to succeed in school.
