Education

INDIANAPOLIS  — The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the nation's broadest school voucher program, clearing the way for its expansion.

Critics had argued that the program primarily benefited religious institutions that run private schools.

But the program's supporters say parents can send their children to any school they want, whether it's public or private, religious or not, and the Supreme Court agreed with that Tuesday. In a 5-0 decision, the justices said the program does not violate the state constitution.

Officials with the agency overseeing Kentucky’s college financial aid expect to figure out how many students will be receiving benefits in the next week.

The state doles out around $100 million in financial aid annually, but that money is on a first come first served basis.

Erin Klarer is with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. She says more people are understanding the importance of higher education.

“But at the same time there’s a lot more demand and the dollars haven’t been increasing at the same rate," she says.

A Louisville student has organized a conference this weekend to discuss the School to Prison Pipeline, a concept that says many public school policies are resulting in a disproportionate number of minority and low-income students entering the justice system.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony for the first time last year bringing national attention into the chambers of the federal government.