Ga. getting school vouchers as some seek to expand S.C. program
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Georgia senators gave final approval Wednesday to a plan to create a $6,500 voucher funding for private school tuition and home schooling, sending the measure to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature.
Meanwhile across the Savannah River, some lawmakers are working to expand South Carolina’s voucher program even as a court ponders its legality.
In Georgia
Georgia senators voted 33-21 along party lines Wednesday to approve changes that the House made last week to Senate Bill 233. House approval
Georgia senators voted 33-21 along party lines Wednesday to approve changes that the House made last week to Senate Bill 233. House approval had long eluded the state’s school choice advocates.
Whereas last year a defeat of the bill in the House left Democratic opponents jubilant, ers broke into applause and embraced as the Senate approved the measure, marking the end of a multiyear saga to create a third Georgia program funding nonpublic education options.
“When I cheer today, I’m going to be cheering because more parents and more families will have more opportunities,” said state Sen. Greg Dolezal, a Republican from Cumming who sponsored the bill.
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Republican Gov. Brian Kemp backs the voucher plan, including devoting a substantial portion of his State of the State speech to advocating for it.
“I firmly believe we can take an all-of-the-above approach to education options,” Kemp said in a statement Wednesday.
Republican House Speaker Jon Burns of Newington began to forcefully advocate for the bill, persuading seven Republicans and a Democrat who opposed the measure last year to it, providing the narrow margin of victory in the House.
The bill would provide $6,500 education savings s to students attending public schools that rank in Georgia’s bottom 25% for academic achievement. That money could be spent on private school tuition, home schooling supplies, therapy, tutoring or even early college courses for high school students.
It differs from last year’s failed measure, having been combined with a number of other education initiatives. But opponents argued that it would subtract resources from public schools, with school districts losing state aid as children depart, even as other students will remain behind.
“This bill is a thinly veiled effort to segregate and discriminate under the guise of choice,” said Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, a Democrat from Duluth. “Private institutions free to pick their students will inevitably leave behind those who perhaps need the most -– our special needs students, our struggling learners.”
Students from households with incomes of less than four times the federal poverty level would be prioritized for the scholarships. Four times the federal poverty level is about $100,000 for a family of three.
In South Carolina
The South Carolina Supreme Court is reviewing the constitutionality of a new program to give certain families taxpayer dollars for private school tuition.
But before the court has delivered a ruling on whether this program can even exist, some leaders at the State House already have plans to significantly expand it.
The House is debating a bill that would expand the Education Scholarship Trust Fund program – which you may also know as the school voucher program.
It was enacted last year – but won’t actually be implemented for the first time until next school year.
Through this program, students can receive scholarships worth $6,000 that can be spent on private and public school tuition and other approved costs.
Under its current guidelines, eligibility at full implementation would be capped at 400% of the federal poverty line. Up to 15,000 students could receive scholarships.
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A new proposal from House Republicans and the state superintendent would remove those eligibility and participation caps to allow any student to apply and allow the General Assembly to expand or limit the number of scholarships as it sees fit.
It would also remove that $6,000 cap, so the amount awarded would fluctuate based on how much public schools receive each year per student from the state.
“I think it’s time that this state recognize that that choice of parents is critical to success and the education of our children in this state, and I think we all understand that education should not be limited to your ZIP code or your background,” said House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.
When they voted last year to establish this program, Republican ers made the argument that this is needed to help lower-income students who have no other educational options besides underperforming schools where they’re assigned.
Democrats, who uniformly oppose the program and its expansion say the new proposal disregards those arguments – by making any student eligible.
“The ink is not yet dry off the bill that was ed last year, and yet we’re throwing that in the trash can and completely going in a different direction,” said Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun.
If ed, this expansion would require the Senate’s approval, as well.
And the Senate Republican leader isn’t eager to take up this proposal just yet.
“Before you look at expanding it, you need to make sure that this one’s going to work, and you also need to see how does the public respond to this new program,” said Sen Shane Massey, R-Edgefield.
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