My daughter Kyndal, 11 and in sixth grade, is now in her second year receiving the donor-funded Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids (PIAK) tax credit scholarship, which allows her to attend West Memphis Christian School. She had been in virtual schooling for three years prior due to covid and the poorly rated quality of learning in our local public schools. 

I really liked the idea of private school because of its smaller classes and more one-on-one time for students. I was also in favor of the idea of my child getting taught from the Bible and learning in a Christ-friendly environment. 

I feel a parent’s role is just as important as a teacher’s in the learning process of a student. It’s an equal partnership. The parents’ encouragement and excitement for learning keeps the child interested and eager for more. 

So Kyndal has always loved school, from her first day of pre-k. You might imagine your child crying as they are dropped off, but she was the only one who cried when the school day ended! Since switching from virtual school, she gets social time and exercise that she was not getting before, and she has thrived and loves her friends and teachers at West Memphis Christian. 

She’s enjoying a dream come true, but it would not have been possible without PIAK. The scholarship has helped us tremendously with the affordability of tuition, while we still provide many required costs like lunches and extracurricular activities. 

Programs like the PIAK and the newer Education Freedom Accounts are so important for people like us who otherwise couldn’t afford to gain access to private schools. We are so grateful that we were fortunate enough to benefit from this scholarship opportunity.

– Lindsey Freeman
West Memphis, September 2024