School choice is a powerful promise—but for many families, it’s a promise that falls short. Without reliable transportation, even the best school options are out of reach. In Indianapolis, parents are raising their voices to demand solutions that make school choice real for everyone.
Here are six powerful stories from advocates who know firsthand how transportation—or the lack of it—can shape a child’s future.
🎤 Cristal Salgado: “I had to pull my son from a school that was working.”
Watch this video from March 2025. In it, Cristal calls for collaboration between IPS and charter schools to ensure families like hers aren’t left behind. As a single mom of two, Cristal found a charter school that helped her son thrive. But without transportation, the daily commute became overwhelming. After a year of trying to make it work, she had to withdraw him.
🎤 Ada Lemus: “Without transportation, my son could lose everything he’s gained.”
In this testimony from March 2025, Ada explains how her son is finally making progress with the help of an IEP and a supportive school. But that progress is fragile. Without a bus, she fears he’ll lose access to the environment that’s helping him succeed. Ada urges leaders to prioritize transportation so students can stay where they’re thriving.
🎤 Sashah Fletcher: “We need to make it easier for families to choose what’s best.”
Sashah testified at an IPS board meeting, sharing how transportation challenges limit real school choice. She believes families shouldn’t have to choose between a great school and a manageable commute—and that access should never depend on a parent’s ability to drive across town.
🎤 Vilma Hernandez: “Fairness means access—for everyone.”
Vilma spoke directly to IPS leaders, advocating for inclusive access to all public schools, including charters. She emphasized that transportation is a matter of fairness and that no family should be excluded from opportunity because of where they live or how they get around.
🎤 Dontia Dyson: “If my son didn’t have a bus, I couldn’t get him to school.”
Dontia is a single father of four, including an autistic son. He’s currently without a driver’s license due to insurance issues, and he knows firsthand how critical school transportation is. Without it, his children wouldn’t be able to attend schools that meet their needs. He’s calling for solutions that reflect the realities families face every day.
🎤 Bryana Perdomo: “Transportation shouldn’t be the reason a child misses out.”
Bryana is a student who understands the impact of transportation barriers from a young person’s perspective. She shared how difficult it can be for students to access the schools that are best for them when transportation isn’t available. Her message is clear: students deserve better.
✅ The Bottom Line
These stories make one thing clear: transportation is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity. If we want school choice to work for all families, we must invest in solutions that ensure every child can get to the school that’s right for them.
Because every child deserves access to opportunity—no matter their ZIP code.
About This Series: Understanding the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA)
In 2025, Indiana lawmakers passed House Bill 1515, establishing the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA)—a task force comprised of local leaders led by the mayor of Indianapolis with the goal of generating ideas to ensure IPS traditional schools and the charter sector are collaborating to improve student outcomes. The ILEA is not about choosing one type of school over another. It’s about building a cohesive system of schools—district, charter, and innovation—that work together to deliver better outcomes for all students.
This blog series explores the key policy areas that our advocates believe are essential to creating a high-performing, student-centered education system. Each post will dive into a specific topic—ranging from school accountability and funding to transportation—highlighting how these elements can support a system that prioritizes better results for students.
