Looser Indiana School Voucher Rules Face Questions

A proposal to expand eligibility for Indiana's private school voucher program will go before state senators next week and likely face questions over its cost and whether it is too soon to broaden it.

The Senate's education committee has a public hearing scheduled for the bill on Wednesday. It would make kindergartners and some other students immediately eligible for vouchers without having to spend a year in public school as currently required.

Republican Sen. Luke Kenley of Noblesville says he's hesitant to start making exceptions to the compromise that led to the voucher program's approval after just two years.

Republican Sen. Doug Eckerty of Yorktown says he doesn't think the expansion will cost very much because private schools have a limited number of additional students they can accept.