Pa. Senate to consider bill on school vouchers
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HARRISBURG -- Legislation to help low-income families pay private school tuition is on its way to the Senate floor.
In a 9-2 vote Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee put the controversial school-choice bill in position for a vote as soon as today.
The legislation would provide vouchers for private schools and expand tax credits for businesses that contribute to scholarship programs for low- and middle-income children.
"The time has come for adoption of a rescue plan for those students who have been failed by the current system," said Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, who sponsored the legislation along with Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia.
Opponents say they worry about the children left behind in failing schools. That's because the money for the vouchers will come from the state's per-pupil spending that otherwise would go to failing public schools.
"Every dime of the voucher program -- hundreds of millions of dollars -- are taken from the poorest schools and the poorest children in Pennsylvania," said Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery.
Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, also opposed the legislation, saying it would violate constitutional provisions that prevent state dollars from going to religious schools.
The American Civil Liberties Union is concerned about that too, said its Pennsylvania chapter lobbyist, Andy Hoover. "The constitution is clear and obvious that it prohibits programs like this," he said.
Mr. Williams said that's for the courts to decide if someone files suit.
If the bill is enacted, the poorest children in the state's 144 lowest-performing schools would be eligible for vouchers equal to the state's per-pupil spending in their district. Children in those schools whose family income is between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level would be eligible for vouchers amounting to 75 percent of state per-pupil spending.
First Published October 26, 2011 12:00 am
