Indiana’s top education official is speaking against a bill that would allow Hoosier K-12 students to apply for private school vouchers at mid-year. Currently, the deadline to apply for a school choice voucher is September 1. A bill authored by Republican Senator Carlin Yoder of Elkhart would extend that deadline until January 15, allowing students to apply for the spring semester.

State schools superintendent Glenda Ritz says any expansion of the voucher program should wait until legislators study the fiscal and academic effects of the current program. Ritz has long opposed the voucher program, filing an unsuccessful lawsuit to block the effort before she became superintendent.

Last week, the Senate passed the bill 40 to 9. It’s now being considered by the House Committee on Education. That committee endorsed the plan today, but sent it to the Ways and Means committee because of its proposed $7 million cost.