vouchers

Join us this Friday as we will talk with guests about the new laws affecting schools, remaining concerns and more.

Join us this Friday as we will talk with guests about voucher numbers, the expansion of the program, concerns, and more.

Dozens of new Indiana laws go into effect July 1. Among those with direct impact on students and teachers are changes to what must be taught and cannot be taught in classrooms, who qualifies for state funds to pay for private school tuition, and graduation requirements.

Vouchers were originally intended to help low-income students pay tuition at a private or religious school, and later aid those enrolled at failing schools. In 2013, Indiana’s Supreme Court upheld the use of public funds to support student tuition at private schools.

Funding for K-12 schools and initiatives makes up 47 percent of the state's new two-year spending plan. That includes a $1.487 billion increase in tuition support for schools of all types.

Republicans hailed the 2023 legislative session as one that saw “generational investments” in education, health care and economic development.

Where Democrats diverge most from Republicans in the budget is on education. The House GOP plan dramatically expands private school vouchers.

A private religious school that planned to terminate a guidance counselor’s job for her marriage to a woman received more than $1.5 million through school vouchers last year.