Without knowing exactly how these funds are allocated and distributed, I can't be in full-throated support. But at first glance, it seems to me that a voucher program that redirects confiscatory education taxes back into the hands of parents to be spent on the school of their choice - even if that school is a religious school - is a good thing.
From my understanding of the article, this is a redistribution to "poor and middle class families", which seems more like a financial litmus test for the availability of a subsidy than it does an equitable opportunity for all parents to choose their child's school and which school their tax dollars fund.
But even so, it seems like a move in the right direction - even more so because the Indiana Supreme Court's ruling leaves little doubt that the main argument of the opposition (teacher's union) was discounted out of hand.
Now Governor Mike Pence is moving towards expanding the program to more Indianans...
Indiana school vouchers upheld in ruling that could set precedent
In a ruling that could reverberate nationwide, the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state's voucher program, which gives poor and middle class families public funds to help pay for private school tuition, including religious schools.
Indiana has the broadest school voucher program available to a range of incomes, critics say, and could set a precedent as other states seek ways to expand such programs.
Supporters say it gives families without financial means more options on where to educate their children.
However, opponents of the Indiana program had sued to block it, describing it as unconstitutional and saying it takes money from public schools. Teresa Meredith, the vice president of the Indiana State Teachers Association and one of the plaintiffs, said she was "very disappointed in the ruling."
Unanimous ruling
As many as 9,000 students statewide are part of the voucher program and more than 80% use the funds to go to religious schools, according to Meredith. But in its unanimous 5-0 ruling, the Supreme Court said that was not an issue.
It said it did not matter that funds had been directed to religious schools as long as the state was not directly funding the education. The tuition, the court said, was being funded by the parents who chose to pay it with their vouchers.
"Whether the Indiana program is wise educational or public policy is not a consideration," Chief Justice Brent Dickson wrote. The public funds "do not directly benefit religious schools but rather directly benefit lower-income families with school children."
Unlike other states, Indiana's program is considered especially extensive because the vouchers are not limited to low-income students in failing schools. A family of four with an annual household income of $64,000 is eligible for vouchers worth up to $4,500 per child, according to the program.
Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Pence has pushed to expand the program.
"I welcome the unanimous decision by the Indiana Supreme Court to uphold our school choice program," Pence said.
"I've long believed that parents should be able to choose where their children go to school regardless of their income."
More @ Link...
