Hundreds voice support of 'school choice' in capital
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HARRISBURG -- Political momentum is building for taxpayer-funded school tuition vouchers, as hundreds of people clogged the Capitol rotunda Tuesday to support the idea of "school choice."
Many of those attending were elementary and high school students wearing shirts reading "Put Students First -- Support School Choice."
Dawn Chavous, of Philadelphia-based political action committee Students First, repeatedly shouted, "My child!" The large crowd loudly replied, "My choice!"
During the recent campaign, Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley told the boisterous crowd, Gov. Tom Corbett "repeatedly said that things would change in education. Today we start that process of putting children first. State government should be open to and promote charter schools, home schools, private schools and cyber schools" as well as traditional public schools, he said.
"I'm more excited and encouraged about the possibility of educational change than I've ever been," said Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, who has been advocating state-funded tuition vouchers for 15 years.
Supporters argue that state education funds should be portable -- meaning students, with their parents' permission, could use them for tuition at private, charter or parochial schools rather than being forced to attend only the public schools in the school district where they reside. Many students are now "trapped" into attending poorly performing public schools, said Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia.
The idea is getting a serious political push this year, with Mr. Piccola and other Republicans, joined by Democrat Mr. Williams plus conservatives such as Ana Puig of The Kitchen Table Patriots and a national group called FreedomWorks, headed by former congressman Dick Armey.
First Published January 26, 2011 12:00 am
