INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A Department of Education report indicates the cost of Indiana’s private school voucher program jumped from $16 million to $40 million during the past school year.

The Indianapolis Star reports about 29,100 students received vouchers during the recently completed academic year, up from about 19,800 the year before.

Supporters of the voucher program argue such an expansion would save the state money because vouchers only provide 50 percent to 90 percent of the funding a traditional public school would receive on behalf of a student. Critics of the program say the increased costs show subsidizing private education is costly and unsustainable.

According to the report, released Tuesday, more than half of those receiving vouchers have never set foot in a public school.