U.S. senator says he'll introduce federally funded voucher measure

Published: 2006-07-18

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said July 14 that he planned to introduced legislation to provide $100 million in federally funded vouchers so that students in low-performing public schools could attend private or parochial schools. Alexander made the announcement in New Orleans at the conclusion of a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development. The hearing was held to gather testimony about the post-Katrina recovery of the public school system in Orleans Parish, a civil entity. Alexander, subcommittee chairman and former U.S. secretary of education, said that under his measure a public school would have to fall below standards established by the No Child Left Behind Act for six years for a student to qualify for the voucher. In his new budget, President George W. Bush has recommended $100 million for a voucher program to allow children the options of attending any school or receiving additional tutoring services, Alexander said.

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