Private education voucher program wins approval in Colorado. (People & Events).Colorado has become the first state to approve a voucher A receipt or release which provides evidence of payment or other discharge of a debt, often for purposes of reimbursement, or attests to the accuracy of the accounts. program since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of "indirect" tax aid to religious schools last year. The measure cleared the Colorado House of Representatives in February and passed the Senate in April. Gov. Bill Owens
Under the plan, 11 of the largest school districts in Colorado  List of school districts in Colorado by county.Adams County
Critics charged that the voucher scheme could drain as much as $193 million from public schools if all eligible students participate. Opponents also said the plan is unnecessary since Colorado already has charter schools and an open system of public school choice and that these reforms are having results. Colorado voters in 1992 soundly rejected a voucher ballot referendum, 67 percent to 33 percent. Foes of the measure are also considering a legal challenge in the state courts. Article IX, Section 7 of the Colorado Constitution states that no "public fund or moneys whatever" can be given "in aid of any church or sectarian sec·tar·i·an adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect. 2. Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination; partisan. 3. Narrow-minded; parochial. n. 1. society, or for any sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary seminary Educational institution, usually for training in theology. In the U.S. the term was formerly also used to refer to institutions of higher learning for women, often teachers' colleges. , college or university...." In other news about tax aid to religious schools: * Voucher advocates in Missouri are trying to change the state constitution to remove its ban on government aid to religious schools. Derio Gambaro Derio L. Gambaro (born December 6, 1955) is an American politician. He previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives where he represented a portion of South St. Louis including the The Hill and Dogtown neighborhoods. He is a Democrat. Gambaro grew up in St. , a former Democratic lawmaker from St. Louis, is leading the effort. If passed by the legislature, the proposed constitutional change would have to be approved by the voters as a ballot question in 2004. * Legislators in Louisiana are pushing voucher bills. Rep. Peppi Bruneau (R-New Orleans) has introduced a bill that would provide $6,000 vouchers to any public school student in the state. A second bill, sponsored by Rep. John Hainkel John Joseph Hainkel, Jr., (born New Orleans, March 24, 1938; died Poplarville, Mississippi, April 15, 2005) was a gregarious, ruffled, and raspy-voiced legislator from New Orleans who died in office after thirty-seven years of service. (R-New Orleans) would peg vouchers at $3,000 and would limit them to students in public schools considered failing. Gov. Mike Foster (R) supports vouchers but insists that any private school that accepts them must administer state-mandated graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. assessment exams, a move opposed by the politically powerful Roman Catholic hierarchy. * Florida lawmakers are promoting vouchers as a solution to public school overcrowding overcrowding overcrowding of animal accommodation. Many countries now publish codes of practice which define what the appropriate volumetric allowances should be for each species of animal when they are housed indoors. Breaches of these codes is overcrowding. in the state. In 2002, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment mandating lower class sizes. To meet that mandate, some lawmakers are proposing voucher bills. A bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Pickens Joe H. Pickens (born November 5, 1958) in Deland, Florida. Pickens is a Representative in the House of Representatives of the U.S. state of Florida. He received his Bachelors degree from Wofford College, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida. (R-Palatka) would allocate vouchers worth $3,500. It passed a House committee on a 17-10 vote in March but must pass two more committees before reaching the full House. Rep. Curtis Richardson (D-Tallahassee) said the legislation was disingenuous dis·in·gen·u·ous adj. 1. Not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating: "an ambitious, disingenuous, philistine, and hypocritical operator, who ... exemplified ... . "This bill does not address what the will of the voters intended when they passed the class-size amendment," Richardson said. * A legislative panel in Texas has approved a voucher proposal. The Texas House of Representatives' Public Education Committee voted 4-3 to approve the measure on April 3. The bill must now go to the House Calendars Committee, which can schedule it for debate on the full floor of the House. * Voters in Milwaukee have chosen a school board that opposes vouchers. In an April 1 election, four pro-voucher candidates were returned to office, but one lost. Incoming board member Tom Balistreri, a former high school principal, was backed by the Milwaukee Teachers' Association and is expected to join an anti-voucher four-member block on the board. Milwaukee's 13-year-old voucher program allows 11,000 low-income children to attend religious and other private schools at taxpayer expense. It is administered by the state, but voucher opponents hope opposition from the Milwaukee School Board will lead to more government oversight and control of the plan. |
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