Indiana vouchers prompt thousands to change schools

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Indiana vouchers prompt thousands to change schools

By TOM COYNE
Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Weeks after Indiana began the nation's broadest school voucher program, thousands of students have transferred from public to private schools, causing a spike in enrollment at some Catholic institutions that were only recently on the brink of closing for lack of pupils.

It's a scenario public school advocates have long feared: Students fleeing local districts in large numbers, taking with them vital tax dollars that often end up at parochial schools. Opponents say the practice violates the separation of church and state.

In at least one district, public school principals have been pleading with parents not to move their children.

"The bottom line from our perspective is, when you cut through all the chaff, nobody can deny that public money is going to be taken from public schools, and they're going to end up in private, mostly religious schools," said Nate Schnellenberger, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

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Not unlike taxpayer money now going to "faith-based" religious organizations, the vouchers
are benefiting Catholic schools. Only 6 of the 240 private schools eligible are secular.

Many of the Catholic schools were under threat of closing - one of the Catholic schools had
702 students at its peak in '53 -- with enrollment having fallen to 135 students most
recently. 213 students are now enrolled.

This is not only true of Indiana - voucher programs in other states are creating a "boom"
in Catholic school sign ups.

About 70% of the vouchers are being used to enroll at Catholic schools.

$1.3 million loss to South Bend districts due to these voucher transfers.