School Choice Vouchers and Special Education in Indiana Catholic Diocesan Schools

Abstract

Catholic schools are now located at a crossroads of school choice voucher programs and special education services. With enrollment in Catholic schools declining over the past several decades, voucher programs that allow parents to use public funds for tuition at private schools-including tuition for students with disabilities-could possibly help to steady or even reverse this decline. This study examined the impact of Indiana's statewide voucher program on Catholic schools, student enrollment , and special education services in three large diocesan school systems. The findings address issues related to enrollment growth, changing student population characteristics, special education services, and the professional development needs of teachers in these schools. The authors discuss the implications of the voucher program for the enrollment and education of students with disabilities in Catholic schools.