The Indiana House has passed it’s version of the budget with the Senate being next to discuss these changes.
School vouchers, a hot topic, proposed changes which could have a major impact on area schools, both private and public.
What the Indiana House passed last week means there would be no restrictions on who can use a voucher, eliminating the income limit of $220,000 for a family of four.
Over the next 2 years, if approved, this budget would increase support for K-12 tuition by more than $550 million.
Betsey Wiley, President of the Institute for Quality Education, says eliminating the requirements for school vouchers would help Indiana families choose their desired school.
“This is making that nonpublic private education, sometimes religious based, right, more affordable for more families in Indiana who are seeking it. Where, prior to the voucher program, only typically those the wealthy individuals in the state of Indiana could afford that education,” says Wiley.
Some lawmakers who spoke on this last week before being passed in the house disagree.
As the tuition support dollars follow the student and there is more access to school vouchers, this could negatively impact funding for public schools.
“In Indiana, we’ve long since adopted a philosophy of funding a student versus a school or a system,” says Wiley.
“It could mean for some traditional public schools that more students who go to a public school today, may choose to go to a private school in the future, right?” Wiley concludes.
Again, this budget is still being discussed, and we could see changes before this hits Governor Mike Braun’s desk.
This story was originally published by wsbt.com.
