Indiana's new school voucher law has prompted some parents to pull their children out of private schools and put them in public schools for a year so that they can become eligible for the state-funded program.
The program, which gives Hoosier students an average of $4,500 from the state to apply toward private-school tuition, was created this year by the Indiana General Assembly. More than 250 private schools have been approved to accept the vouchers.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said during a Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce forum on Tuesday that he understands the changes he has advocated make many teachers and other uncomfortable.
Superintendent Tony Bennett says most of the students receiving vouchers come from households whose incomes qualify the students for free or reduced lunches and breakfasts.
Weeks after Indiana began the nation's broadest school voucher program, thousands of students have transferred from public to private schools, causing a spike in enrollment at some Catholic institutions that were only recently on the brink of closing for lack of pupils.
A judge Monday declined to halt Indiana's broad new school voucher program, saying the law was "religion-neutral" and likely to be upheld.
About 385 families have requested state tuition assistance at private schools since July 11, when the Indiana Department of Education started accepting applications for its new voucher program.
The state Department of Education is working to process the applications for the program, which will initially allow a limited number of low- and middle-income families to use public money toward private school tuition.
The Indiana State Teachers Association filed the lawsuit in Marion County on Friday seeking to block the state’s new school voucher law. Plaintiffs include teachers, school administrators, clergy and taxpayers.
Parents, schools need time to sift details, experts say.
Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed into law a plan giving Indiana the nation's most sweeping private school voucher program.
A small private school that serves gifted and talented students intends to move to a downtown building that has been vacant since a daycare center moved out three years ago.
A look at some major legislation considered this year by the Indiana General Assembly.
The Republican-ruled Senate voted 28-22 Thursday to advance the bill, which is the most contentious part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ extensive education reform agenda.
Two pieces of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' sweeping education plan, a voucher plan that would direct taxpayer money to private schools and a merit pay bill that links teacher pay to student performance, cleared key legislative hurdles Wednesday.
The Indiana Senate has approved Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposal aimed at expanding charter schools, marking the first piece of the governor's sweeping education agenda to clear both the House and Senate.
The GOP-led House voted 56-42 on Wednesday in favor of the bill that would use taxpayer money to help some parents move their children from public schools to private schools.
Education advocates told hundreds of cheering supporters at a Statehouse rally Wednesday that Indiana could lead the nation in overhauling schools.
State-funded vouchers for private schools and a shift of money to charter schools are necessary steps in the effort to improve Indiana's education system, the state schools superintendent said Tuesday.
To win solid support for the bill from his own caucus, House Speaker Brian Bosma said Republicans are considering limiting the number of students who could receive vouchers and may further restrict qualifying income levels.
