House OKs tax credits for aid to low-income families

Posted to: News Politics State Government Virginia
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By Bill Sizemore
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 9, 2011

The House of Delegates approved a measure Tuesday to offer tax credits to corporations for donations to help children from low-income families attend private schools.

The close vote on the bill, 54-45, reflected critics' concerns that it would harm public schools.

The measure would offer a 70 percent credit for donations to nonprofit groups that provide private-school scholarships to low-income children.

Del. Jimmie Massie, R-Henrico County, the sponsor of HB2314, said a similar program has been a success in Florida and attracted support across party lines, including from African American lawmakers.

Del. Algie Howell, D-Norfolk, a co-sponsor of the bill, was the only African American delegate to support the measure.

"What happens to the children who don't get the scholarships?" asked Del. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond. "I don't want to set up a system in Virginia of haves and have-nots."

The bill now goes to the state Senate. A similar measure passed the House last year and died in a Senate committee.

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Why would we need this?

Submitted by LaQuandra on Wed, 02/09/2011 at 7:10 am.

Why would we need this? Haven't we lowered the standards of the public schools system enough already? Now you want to lower the private sector? Instead of "giving" to everyone, first we should hold them accountable. Drug test for benefits, increase the standards of public schools, and set an example of the ones who choose to break the law.

until private schools have to accept all who apply

Submitted by vbbum on Tue, 02/08/2011 at 6:50 pm.

No state money should be diverted to fund schools who pick and choose who can attend. Public schoo;s have to accept all, even troublemakers. So should private schools to get state aid.

“I don’t want to set up a system in Virginia of haves and have-

Submitted by suffolksplit on Tue, 02/08/2011 at 6:20 pm.

Who is that clown? She only wants have-nots?

What happens to the children who don’t get the scholarships

Submitted by suffolksplit on Tue, 02/08/2011 at 6:05 pm.

Nothing except smaller class sizes. No one is even embarrassed about saying things like this anymore. How could anyone justify holding low income children with high potential back just to maintain equal mediocrity? The epitome of crab bucket mentality.

Fix our schools

Submitted by flneblitt on Tue, 02/08/2011 at 5:27 pm.

Stop trying to divert money away from the public school system. There seems to be this idea that our schools are bad, and to send money to private schools since 1954. Get rid of the front office at our schools and put more into the class rooms. The hardest thing to find is a teacher who cares. How many of our students finish but can not go on to college, because they are not prepared. Don't blame it on the parents. Neither of mine finish high school, but both of my sisters did. I finished high school, but did not go to college. My father thought going to work was more important, but my daughter has two bachelors and a masters degree.