Both Sides of Voucher Debate Continue Battle for "Choice"

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The fight to pass a universal voucher program in Utah didn't end when Governor Huntsman signed the bill into law. Voucher opponents are working to undo the system on several fronts. Meanwhile, school choice advocates say parents are eager to send their kids to private school on the taxpayer's dime. KCPW's Julie Rose reports:

 

School choice advocates say they are getting hundreds of calls from parents eager to sign their children up for the Utah's new voucher system. Meanwhile, opponents are racing to collect 92,000 signatures in hopes of overturning the program in a voter referendum.

Nancy Pomeroy, a spokesperson for Parents for Choice in Education, calls the referendum a "stalling tactic" because it could put vouchers on hold until the next general election in 2008.

But Utahns for Public Schools spokesperson Pat Rusk says the goal is to stop, not stall. She says voters deserve to weigh-in on such a controversial issue - especially since it took seven years to pass by just one vote at the Utah Legislature. If the referendum effort fails, she says they will still consider taking the voucher system to court.

Voucher applications for the 2007-2008 school year will be available starting May 15th.

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