Students Receiving Tax-Funded Vouchers Surge By 47%

The number of Indiana students receiving school vouchers has grown by 47 percent this school year to more than 29,000.

The Indiana Department of Education released its annual report on voucher participation and payments Monday. It says students are eligible to receive nearly $116 million in voucher awards this school year, up from $81 million a year ago.

Students receiving vouchers represent 2.6 percent of the total statewide school enrollment.

The Fort Wayne Community Schools had the highest number of students receiving vouchers, at more than 4,000, followed by the Indianapolis Public Schools and South Bend Community School Corp.

The report shows three Catholic schools received more than $1.5 million in voucher money: Scecina Memorial in Indianapolis and Bishop Luers and Bishop Dwenger high schools in Fort Wayne.