Indiana's school voucher program has finished its first year with enrollment on the rise and supporters trumpeting the program's successes.

Some 4,800 Hoosier students have signed up for vouchers to attend private schools this fall.

That's up about 800 students from this year, and the voucher deadline is still months away.

Indiana's voucher program is considered the most expansive in the country because its income guidelines are wide and students from all schools are eligible.

The state's average voucher was worth $4,150 this year.

In the program's first year $15.5 million in taxpayer dollars were sent to largely religious-affiliated private schools rather than public schools.

State superintendent of public instruction Tony Bennett calls it, quote, "a true success story."