Supporters, politicians to rally against school vouchers

The Indiana Coalition for Public Education, partnered with the Indiana Parent Teacher Association, is bringing together groups of supporters rallying against the state’s voucher program. Supporters will gather in protest at 2:30 p.m. today at the Indiana Statehouse in the south atrium.

Currently, the school voucher program affords Hoosier families the opportunity to send their children to a school that meets their learning needs but exceeds their financial capabilities. The voucher, or “choice scholarship,” is a state payment that qualifying families can utilize to offset tuition costs at participating schools.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must meet a total household income threshold. The amount of the scholarship corresponds with the public school corporation where the student resides.

The voucher program is in its second year and faces a Senate committee’s vote for an expansion of the program this week.

“School budgets were deeply slashed by $300 million in December 2009,” Vic Smith of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education said in a press release. “To this day that money has not been restored to our schools.”  

Various senators, state representatives and education officials will speak at the event and address the supporters.

The list of speakers at the rally includes:

State Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville

State Sen. Tim Skinner, D-Terre Haute

State Rep. Randy Truitt, R-West Lafayette

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary

Sharon Wise, president, Indiana PTA

Danny Tanoos, superintendent, Vigo County Schools

Julie Hollingsworth, school board member, Fort Wayne Community Schools

Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, parent, ICPE Bloomington

Phyllis Bush, Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education

Vic Smith, ICPE

Joel Hand, ICPE

Carole Craig, ICPE

— Michael Majchrowicz