House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers

WASHINGTON AP House Republicans want to set aside up to billion a year for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools an unprecedented effort to use population money to pay for private training The proposal part of a budget reconciliation bill issued Monday would advance President Donald Trump s agenda of establishing universal school choice by providing families nationwide the option to give their children an instruction different from the one offered in their local community school Nearly all households would qualify except those making more than three times the local median income Supporters of private school vouchers say they want to give families assigned to low-performing schools more choices Giving parents the ability to choose the best schooling for their child makes the American Dream feasible reported Republican Louisiana Sen Bill Cassidy who sponsored a similar proposal in the Senate The campaign would be funded by donors who could contribute money or stock In turn they would receive of the contribution back in the form of a discount on their tax bills It would allow stock holders to avoid paying taxes that would be levied if they donated or transferred the stock Critics decried the proposal saying it would aid the wealthy at the expense of the masses school systems that serve the overwhelming majority of students They explained it would set up a tax shelter allowing savvy investors to make money under the guise of a donation All of this comes as the Trump administration downsizes the Instruction Department and cuts information to population schools including billion in mental wellness grants and funding for mentor training This is a considerable threat disclosed Sasha Pudelski of AASA the School Superintendents Association She added that states that have voucher programs often end up assisting families that were already paying for private school It s opening the door even wider to what has already plagued voucher programs around the country which is rampant waste fraud and abuse Similar tax-credit scholarship and private school voucher programs have proliferated in red-leaning states like Texas which just passed a billion venture Population school advocates worry the programs hurt enrollment and per-pupil funding ultimately leaving fewer support for families that choose residents schools The Associated Press instruction coverage receives financial aid from multiple private foundations AP is solely responsible for all content Find AP s standards for working with philanthropies a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP org Source