Indiana High Court Upholds School Voucher Program

In Meredith v. Pence, (IN Sup. Ct., March 26, 2013), the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously rejected a state constitutional challenge to Indiana's Choice Scholarship Program which makes school vouchers for use at private schools, including religious schools, available to eligible parents. The court rejected challengers' claims that the program violates Art. 8, Sec. 1 of the Constitution that calls for a system of uniform common schools, Art. 1, Sec. 4 that bars compelling anyone from supporting any place of worship,and Art.1, Sec. 6 that prohibits use of state funds to benefit any religious institution. Rejecting the Art. 1, Sec. 6 challenge, the court wrote in part:

In light of the prevailing social, cultural, and legal circumstances when Indiana's Constitution was enacted, we understand Section 6 as not intended to prohibit government support of primary and secondary education which at the time included a substantial religious component.

USA Today reports on the decision. [Thanks to Blog from the Capital for the lead.]