State Senate Panel Mulls School Voucher Plan

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AUSTIN (AP) - A Texas Senate education panel is considering a sweeping but divisive voucher plan that would let families get state funding to send their children to private and religious schools.

The proposal championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor promotes what they call "school choice" by letting parents remove students from struggling public schools.

The plan will be heard Thursday in Taylor's committee, which is likely to eventually approve it to the full Senate.

Last session, Patrick promoted a major school voucher plan, but Democrats and rural Republicans in the House adopted a resolution declaring that public money should remain with public schools.

That came amid fears that poorly performing public schools could deteriorate if forced to compete for students and state funding they bring.

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