Posted by Michelle Manchir at 8:33 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD – Kids in Chicago‘s
poorest and most-overcrowded schools could get vouchers to help cover
costs at private schools under legislation a House panel approved today.
Under
the measure, parents of students in kindergarten through eighth grade
could put the $3,717 voucher toward tuition at participating private
and parochial schools. The program would begin in the fall of 2011 and
could impact up to 30,000 students, said Rep. Kevin Joyce, D-Chicago.
"We’re trying to give kids a chance here that might not have a chance," said Joyce, who is working with Sen. James Meeks, D-Chicago, on the proposal.
The House Executive Committee voted 10-1 to send the bill to the full House, where it could be voted upon as early as Friday.
The action would give vouchers not only to the schools where
students are poorest and lowest performing. But it also would extend
vouchers to students from poor families in the most-overcrowded
schools, a change from the bill when Meeks won Senate approval.
Public teacher unions lined up in opposition and warned of a lawsuit if the bill becomes law.
Jim Reed, spokesman for the Illinois Education Association, said
today the bill violates the Illinois Constitution by giving state money
to private schools, which support the measure.
"The fact that you’re diverting funds from public schools means that
the kids that are left in those existing public schools are going to
have fewer resources," Reed said.
The only "no" vote came from Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, who said
the state’s billion-dollar budget deficit should be addressed before
considering new programs.
"We have a responsibility and an obligation to our existing schools
that we pay the debt we owe them first and then we talk about
experiments in vouchers," said Brady, who said he had a child in
private school.
Supporters maintained the pilot program is worth it if students can get a shot at a better education.
"It’s time to try something, and it goes back to the kids, not a
bunch of adults haggling over dollars," said Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein.