Tax Dollars for Private School Scholarships

None by KCPW

An Age-Old Debate Continues

(KCPW News) Citizens packed a House Education Committee meeting yesterday to speak out on a bill that would give funnel tax dollars into private school scholarships. Kathy Tenney is a mother of five who supports the bill:

"I have friends who live in low-income neighborhoods who have no choices and are stuck in situations that aren't working for their kids. The three thousand dollar voucher would make a private education within reach for them. It would give them some choices where they could have an opportunity that would work better for their kids."

School vouchers have fueled Capitol Hill debate for many years, but House Republicans believe they have the support this session to get the bill through. The plan will offer students an average voucher of 25-hundred dollars, depending on family income. The bill's sponsor, Representative Steve Urquhart, insists public schools won't be hurt by a loss of students or money. But Heather Bennett of the Salt Lake Board of Education is skeptical:

"The needs we have in public education are huge, and many of them remain unmet. So if this legislature wants to help increase the education level of our citizenry, they need to support public education to the level it needs to be supported."

Urquhart says all children have a right to get the ideal education for them -- and vouchers are the gateway. The committee approved the measure nine-to-six, with primarily Democrats voting "no."

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