Navigating the Indiana Choice Scholarship: Requirements, Impact, and Ongoing Debates

The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, also known as the voucher program, represents a significant initiative within the state's educational landscape. Created to address perceived shortcomings in the public education system, the program provides scholarships to eligible Indiana students in grades K-12, helping to offset tuition costs at participating schools. As of January 2025, the program has grown to serve 70,000 students, making it the largest voucher program in the United States.

Origins and Evolution

The Indiana Choice Scholarship was initially launched in 2011 during Mitch Daniels' tenure as governor. In 2013, the Indiana General Assembly passed HB 1003, which broadened the scope of the program by introducing tax credits for families already enrolled in private schools and expanding eligibility criteria for vouchers.

Program Details

The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program aims to provide families with the opportunity to choose the educational environment that best suits their children's needs. The program operates under specific guidelines and requirements, ensuring that participating students and schools meet certain standards.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Choice Scholarship award, students must meet the following criteria:

Legal Settlement: The student must have legal settlement in Indiana.
Age: The student must be at least five (5) years old and less than 22 years old by October 1 of the school year for which they are applying.
Household Income: The student must be a member of a household with an annual income of not more than 400% of the amount to qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program.

Application Process

When a Choice school has been selected for an Indiana student, the student should enroll in the school. The Choice school has access to an electronic application that they will use to submit the student’s Choice application. The 2025-2026 Choice Scholarship student application is available beginning on Friday, March 1, and ending on Sunday, September 1, for the first application period. The 2025-2026 period 2 Choice Scholarship application period begins Friday, November 1, 2025 and ends Wednesday, January 15, 2026. The parent/guardian must provide documentation of eligibility to the Choice school. This award letter will detail the estimated amount of the Choice Scholarship. To access the school application, prospective schools must have access to the LINK Portal. All prospective schools must have a school identification number provided by IDOE’s Office of Accountability.

Read also: Indiana School Choice

Impact and Statistics

During the 2016-2017 school year, the voucher program saw 34,299 students attending 313 different schools. These voucher students accounted for twenty percent of the voucher students in the United States. During this school year, the voucher program families, both low-income and middle-class, were able to qualify for some sort of aid. As of January 2025, the Indiana Choice Scholarship has 70,000 students and is the largest voucher program in the country.

Arguments For and Against the Program

The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program has generated considerable debate, with proponents and critics offering distinct perspectives on its merits and drawbacks.

Arguments in Favor

Expanded Educational Opportunities: Supporters argue that the program provides underprivileged students with access to private schools, offering them a chance to escape underperforming public schools.
Parental Choice: Proponents believe that parents should have the right to choose the best educational environment for their children, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Program Growth: Those who support the voucher program point to the exponential growth of the program.

Arguments Against

Undermining Public Schools: Critics contend that the program diverts resources from public schools, weakening the foundation of the public education system. Supporters of public schools say the program undermines the foundation of the public school system, citing disabilities concerns, financial barriers, divisions, and a lack of improvement.
Lack of Disability Accommodations: People are critical of the Indiana Choice Scholarship because of the lack of disability accommodations. Private schools do not have to accommodate 504 plans, some disabilities, and IEPs (Individualized Education Program).
Constitutionality: Many opponents of the voucher program say that the program is unconstitutional because of the constitutional right of separation of church and state. The argument has also been made that vouchers challenge the First Amendment Right that separates church and state. Cases have been brought to the courts questioning whether giving taxpayer money to religious schools goes against the First Amendment Right.
Selective Enrollment: Critics of the voucher program are also cautious of the program because private schools can defer students based on their religion, gender, and ability to a certain extent.
Effectiveness: Due to the lack of evidence that voucher programs work, an argument has been made that voucher programs are a way for republican lawmakers to push conservative agendas.

Long-Term Effects and Ongoing Research

Long-term effects of the voucher program have not been studied enough to draw any conclusions. There have been many studies on the impact of the Indiana Choice Program Scholarship.

Read also: Navigating Accreditation

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