Plan to expand vouchers moving steadily forward

A Senate committee pushed ahead the plan to triple the number of state-paid vouchers available for low-income students to attend private schools Wednesday, despite warnings from critics that it creates a ''shadow school system'' in violation of the state Constitution.

The proposal by Sen Don Gaetz, which has the support of the governor and many black lawmakers, expands the program that allows corporations to get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their corporate income taxes if they send it to a nonprofit organization for low-income students to get vouchers to attend private schools.

"'The Constitution says the entire system has to be uniform and equal,'' said Ron Meyer, attorney for Florida Education Association. ''I don't think the way the state achieves that is to start exporting a group of students who don't feel they're getting a high quality education.'' He said it was creating ``a shadow school system.'' Read story here.

Comments

[Ron]

doesn't the voucher system in fact turn the "private" school into the public school????

[Ron]

wouldn't it be much better to find a way to raise the incomes of the working americans, a voucher almost makes it more apealing for people to quit working and live on the system for everything including housing and education

[Ron]

until the wage system in america exceeds the cost of living a voucher system in any area other than humanitarian incourages to quit working

[Ron]

DOESN'T LOW INCOME UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCES MEAN...ANYONE THAT CAN NOT AFFORD IT ON THEIR OWN?....IF NOT THEN THE VOUCHER SYSTEM WILL CREATE A "NEW" LOW INCOME QUALIFICATION FOR THOSE BETWEEN THE INCOME GUIDELINES