Election night victories for Indiana republicans have paved the way for a major education overhaul that could affect thousands of students, teachers and parents.

Indiana State Education Superintendent Tony Bennett is behind a plan featuring several changes, including getting more students attending charter schools and allowing parents to use public money for private school tuition.

Also, teachers could earn merit pay and lawmakers could shift school funding from shrinking urban and rural districts to growing suburban areas.

Bennett is hoping his fellow republicans make the changes happen in the 2011 legislative session, but democrats and other opponents hope to stop some proposals even though they'll have no power in the statehouse.