Suit Challenges Indiana School Voucher Program

On Friday, a group of 12 plaintiffs filed suit in an Indiana state court to challenge Indiana's recently enacted Choice Scholarship program that will provide vouchers to students from families whose income does not exceed 150% of the amount to qualify for the federal free lunch program. Numbers of participants are limited in the first two years.  AP reports that the plaintiffs challenging the law include a former Indiana State School Board of Education member, a public school teacher, and a retired minister who is the father of a federal appeals judge.  The suit contends that the program violates state constitutional provisions that bar the use of tax funds for religious institutions and which require a general and uniform system of common schools.Most of the 352 private schools where vouchers can be used are affiliated with churches or other religious institutions.