Truth Summary
Vic Smith’s comments that the Governor is proposing a “blank check” for private school tuition are false. What the Governor is proposing is to remove the $4,800 cap on grade 1-8 vouchers. Right now a voucher is worth the LESSER of the following:
• Tuition and fees at the voucher school
• An amount based off of the per-student state funding for the student’s school corporation of residence, determined as follows:
o 90% of what traditional public schools receive per-student (families at or below 100% FRL)
o 50% of what traditional public schools receive per-student (families at 101-150% FRL)
• $4,800 for grades 1-8
Under the Governor’s proposal the third option would be eliminated.
A voucher will ALWAYS be less than what that same student would have received at their traditional public school. Nothing in current state law or the Governor’s proposal would allow voucher schools to receive more funds by simply raising their tuition.
