Indiana Supreme Court Decides in Favor of Families

In a 5-0 vote, the Indiana State Supreme Court voted in favor of upholding the state’s school voucher program yesterday. 

The Supreme Court decision ended a two-year legal review of the Choice Scholarship Program.  When the program became law in July 2011, the Indiana State Teachers’ Association along with the National Education Association filed suit, challenging the constitutionality of the program.  (Follow the program’s legal journey here: November 2012,  December 2011, August 2011, and the program's passage and original legal challenge in July 2011.) 

The monumental decision allows thousands of Indiana students to continue to receive the education of their parent’s choice, ensuring all students are given same opportunities, no matter their parent’s income or their zip code. 

Currently, more than 9,300 low- and middle-income students receive scholarships to attend one of 289 participating schools through the Choice Scholarship Program.  To be eligible for the program, students qualifying for the federal free-and-reduced lunch program ($42,643 for a family of four) can receive a scholarship worth up to 90 percent of the state tuition amount. Children from families who earn up to 150 percent of the free-and-reduced lunch eligibility ($63,964 for a family of four) are eligible for a scholarship for up to 50 percent of the tuition amount.

 

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, KMS