Bob Behning, a longtime Indiana state representative who helped create the state's voucher program and expand charter schools, lost his bid for reelection. The outcome was described as an election surprise. Behning had been a key figure in Indiana's education reform efforts for decades. The report does not say how this result will affect the voucher program, charter schools or other education options for families across the state. Families who rely on these choices may want to keep an eye on future reporting.
Voters in Indianapolis Public Schools boundaries approved a property-tax referendum that will generate an estimated $95 million a year for IPS and roughly 60 charter schools, with about 63% support in unofficial results. The money is split by student enrollment, with charters expected to receive about $48.6 million annually and IPS about $46.4 million. The district estimates an increase of roughly
05 a year for a
50,000 home. Some advocates for traditional public schools had argued against charters receiving referendum money. IPS still expects to cut
0 million for 2027-28 and anticipates school closures next year.
Clinton County Daily News (Indiana Department of Education notice) · Sat, Oct 31, 2026
The Indiana Department of Education has shared updated federal guidelines for free or reduced-price school meals and free milk for the 2026-2027 school year, including updated household size and income criteria. The guidelines come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and cover programs such as the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Families can apply at any time during the school year, whether they are applying for the first time or their eligibility has changed. Families who think they may qualify are encouraged to contact their school or childcare facility directly. The notice also explains USDA civil rights protections and how to file a discrimination complaint, using Form AD-3027. It notes that complaint deadlines vary by program or incident.
InkFreeNews (Indianapolis Star) · Tue, Oct 27, 2026
A Randolph County judge has struck down part of Indiana's property tax relief law, Senate Enrolled Act 1, that would have forced Union School in east central Indiana to close by July 2027. The district argued it was "specifically targeted" by special legislation that violated the state constitution and harmed students, and Special Judge Brian Hutchison agreed in a ruling on Friday, Oct. 23. Superintendent Galen Mast says the school will continue to operate as usual. The state may still appeal, and as of noon Monday, Oct. 26, no appeal had been filed. State lawmakers who backed the closure cited low reading proficiency and declining enrollment, while state attorneys argued the district's education was much worse than the rest of the state's.
Former Indiana Virtual School director Phillip Holden went on trial Tuesday in federal court on 17 counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors say he helped inflate enrollment to draw per-pupil state funding in a $44 million scheme. Founder Thomas Stoughton pleaded guilty the day before a joint trial was to begin, and superintendent Percy Clark pleaded guilty to conspiracy in June 2025. Holden's attorneys say he was a blue-collar worker who did not benefit financially from the enrollment scheme. The trial is expected to run into next week. The case follows a 2017 Chalkbeat investigation that led Indiana lawmakers to tighten funding and attendance requirements for virtual schools.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun is encouraging organizations to apply for approval under a new federal education tax credit program. Beginning January 1, 2027, eligible taxpayers can claim a nonrefundable federal credit of up to
,700 for donations to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations that fund K-12 scholarships, or up to $3,400 for married couples filing jointly. Scholarship funds can help cover tuition, fees, special education services, books, technology, tutoring and before- and after-school programs at public or private schools. Indiana has launched an application process for organizations seeking approval to participate in 2027, and the Indiana Department of Education will publish its list of approved organizations by December 31 each year.
Indiana's voucher program, which state law calls choice scholarships, awarded $548 million to 80,548 students in 2025-26, a 10% increase over the prior year. Those students attended 385 private schools, nearly all of them religious. With universal vouchers launching this school year, all private school students will qualify regardless of family income. Rep. Bob Behning, the law's author, says the program is working as intended by letting parents choose the school that meets their child's needs. Critics, including Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce, argue that vouchers draw money away from public schools that already face funding pressures. For families across the state, the expansion will affect both school options and how education dollars are divided.
Eastern Hancock, a 1,200-student Indiana district, used a state charter to launch the Indiana Microschool Collaborative, a network that can open microschools anywhere in the state. Superintendent George Philhower is also the collaborative's CEO. Sites now range from a campground, which opened in 2025 with 70 students and had 140 children on its waiting list by year's end, to a university campus, a small-town church and an elementary school in Randolph County. Philhower says the network prefers partnering with existing districts through innovation agreements to help them keep students who might otherwise leave for homeschooling or online options. He acknowledges that some districts may not welcome this approach.
Indiana's Choice Scholarship Program, the state's private school voucher program, served more than 80,500 students in the 2025-26 school year, according to a newly released state report. The state projects it cost about $548 million, roughly $50.8 million more than the year before, and a final tally won't be available until next year. Participation growth has slowed, and 2025-26 was the last year with income limits. Starting in July 2026, lawmakers removed all income requirements, creating a universal voucher program. Families across Indiana now have broader access to the program, which included 395 participating schools last year.
Indiana's school voucher program has reached a new milestone. As students returned this month for the 2026-27 school year, every Hoosier student is eligible for the state-funded choice scholarship to help pay private school tuition, regardless of family income. Gov. Mike Braun marked the occasion Thursday at Cardinal Ritter Catholic High School in Indianapolis, one of 427 private and parochial schools accepting the scholarships. Preliminary estimates put awards between $6,000 and $8,500, with final amounts to be determined later. Critics, including state Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute, argue that universal vouchers divert money from public schools to families who were already paying for private school.
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