TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas foundation has raised more than a half a million dollars under a new program that seeks to pay for low income children in northeast Kansas to attend private schools.

The state Legislature last spring created a tax credit for corporations, which took effect this year. The program allows businesses to donate money for low-income children to attend private schools.

The Catholic Education Foundation, a Kansas City, Kan.-based foundation, says 65 to 70 children will receive scholarships to switch to the Archdiocese’s schools this year. Most of the children are elementary or middle-school-aged, living primarily in Wyandotte County, Topeka, Ottawa and Leavenworth.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports  Patrick Woods, president of the Topeka Board of Education, says Kansas instead should give public schools more resources to help struggling children.