Post by pavel on Jan 21, 2016 0:03:52 GMT -6
A school voucher plan for Tennessee passed a key legislative hurdle Wednesday, but opponents said there's still a fight to come.
House Bill 1049 made its way out of a House budget subcommittee, signaling a first for this type of voucher program and helping clear a major obstacle for the legislation. The bill passed on a voice vote, and it was unclear who voted for the bill.
Voucher programs offer government-funded scholarships that can be used for private school tuition. Gov. Bill Haslam has supported a limited voucher program for low-income students at struggling schools, and other conservative groups hailed the vote as a move forward.
"This is a big step in the right direction for this school choice bill that has the potential to help so many Tennessee families," said Justin Owen, CEO of the Beacon Center of Tennessee.
Read more: www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/01/20/tennessee-school-voucher-plan-passes-key-hurdle/79054140/
House Bill 1049 made its way out of a House budget subcommittee, signaling a first for this type of voucher program and helping clear a major obstacle for the legislation. The bill passed on a voice vote, and it was unclear who voted for the bill.
Voucher programs offer government-funded scholarships that can be used for private school tuition. Gov. Bill Haslam has supported a limited voucher program for low-income students at struggling schools, and other conservative groups hailed the vote as a move forward.
"This is a big step in the right direction for this school choice bill that has the potential to help so many Tennessee families," said Justin Owen, CEO of the Beacon Center of Tennessee.
Read more: www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2016/01/20/tennessee-school-voucher-plan-passes-key-hurdle/79054140/