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6/30/09- BREAKING NEWS: INDIANA PASSES PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM

06/30/2009

(Washington, D.C., June 30, 2009)—This evening, the Indiana General Assembly passed a corporate and individual scholarship tax credit program, providing hope and opportunity to thousands of Hoosier state children. Governor Mitch Daniels signed the program into law tonight.

 The $2.5 million corporate and individual scholarship tax credit program was included in the state’s budget. This new program rewards generous companies and individuals who donate money to nonprofit organizations that help low-income children attend private schools. In return for their donations, the individuals and/or corporations receive a 50 percent tax credit.

"In an incredibly challenging year for school choice, the passage of this program provides clear and convincing evidence that the people of Indiana want and need school choice now more than ever,” said Lori Drummer, director of state projects at the Alliance for School Choice. “We congratulate School Choice Indiana and a host of other state and national allies who were instrumental in this victory.”

Indiana is now the 11th state (in addition to the District of Columbia) to offer a private school choice program. There are 18 programs available, currently serving 171,000 children.

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The Alliance for School Choice is a national leader in promoting school vouchers and scholarship tax credit programs. For more information, visit www.AllianceforSchoolChoice.org.