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Politics

Legislative Committee Approves Voucher Bill

WUNC | By Jessica Jones
Published May 28, 2013 at 4:49 PM EDT
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Dave Crosby

A legislative committee has approved a measure that would allow low-income students to get taxpayer money to attend private schools.

The bill, called theOpportunity Scholarship Act, would set aside ten million dollars for two thousand scholarships beginning on July first. $40 million more dollars would be set aside for students the following year.

Each eligible child could receive a $4,200 grant, or voucher. Supporters of the measure say it will give students more choices and save public schools money. But opponents, including some Republicans, say while they're comfortable providing funding for public charter schools, they're uncomfortable giving money to private schools.

Many of the bill's supporters outside the legislature work at religious private schools, which would benefit from the measure. The bill will now go to another committee for consideration.
 

PoliticsNC General AssemblySchool VouchersOpportunity Scholarship Act
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Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones covers both the legislature in Raleigh and politics across the state. Before her current assignment, Jessica was given the responsibility to open up WUNC's first Greensboro Bureau at the Triad Stage in 2009. She's a seasoned public radio reporter who's covered everything from education to immigration, and she's a regular contributor to NPR's news programs. Jessica started her career in journalism in Egypt, where she freelanced for international print and radio outlets. After stints in Washington, D.C. with Voice of America and NPR, Jessica joined the staff of WUNC in 1999. She is a graduate of Yale University.
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