Students in schools that get a failing grade will be entitled to go to private school. The tax money would be taken out of public education. By some estimates, about 170 of Florida s 3,000 public schools could flunk under the new, tougher standards taking effect. Milwaukee and Cleveland have started voucher programs in recent years. Vermont has allowed tax dollars to be spent for private school tuition in rural areas for more than a century.
Maine has a similar program to Vermont s.
In Florida, the issue dominated the two-month legislative session, with supporters saying it will give schools an incentive to improve and will help children get a better education. Republican Sen. John McKay said the legislation will allow students to escape from failing schools. Critics also warned about the use of vouchers to pay for parochial school tuition. We will go to court and we will fight on every battle front there is. We won t allow this to become law.