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There's Still Hope for School Choice Wes VernonWASHINGTON – Although Republican and Democratic leaders on the Senate Education Committee have agreed to key elements of the Bush administration's education plan, but without vouchers, a freshman senator is keeping the "money for private schools" issue alive with a different approach. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., prepared to introduce today a measure that would "empower parents to invest in their children's education." The bill would establish an "Education Opportunity Tax Credit" of $1,000 for each student from kindergarten through grade 12. Each family would be allowed a maximum tax credit of $2,000. The senator told NewsMax.com the credit would be available regardless of whether the student attended a public, private or home school. It would apply to education goods and services, including computers, education software, reference materials (not textbooks already supplied by schools) and tutoring. The legislation would not apply tax credits to tuition at a private school. However, that did not shield Allen, a former governor, from bitter attacks on the proposal when he was touting it last fall in his successful campaign to unseat then Sen. Chuck Robb, a Democrat. The teachers unions went after Allen with everything it had. And they had plenty of resources. The airwaves in Virginia and in nearby Washington, D.C., TV stations were filled with union-backed vitriol for Allen's proposal, along with his education record when he was governor (1993-1997). His tenure as the state's chief executive was noted for an insistence that students really learn from teachers who are competent. That left him with the undying enmity of those in the education establishment who were cozy with the status quo. "Education-related tax relief follows the principle that parental involvement is a cornerstone for academic success," Allen declared. "Parents, better than anyone, know the special needs of their own children. Providing families greater financial resources to invest in their children's education serves to involve and empower parents to help their own children learn and succeed in school." The "money "or in this case, tax credits" follows the kids" approach is the same principle that guides the idea of school vouchers. Thus, the bipartisan leadership in the Senate Education Committee may not be able to avoid a robust debate on this idea. Allen has sent a letter to his colleagues seeking support of the initiative.
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