INDIANAPOLIS — A federal court has approved the settlement between the NCAA and 12,000 former student-athletes seeking reimbursements for educational expenses, resume preparation and career counseling.

NCAA officials announced today that the U.S. district court in Los Angeles had approved the proposal Tuesday.

As part of the deal, the NCAA will create a $10 million fund for former student-athletes, thousands of whom joined in the class-action lawsuit. Those students, who attended school between Feb. 17, 2002 and Aug. 4, 2008, have three years to file claims with the NCAA.

As part of the deal, the NCAA denied it any wrongdoing in the case and said it agreed to settle to avoid additional expenses.