School Vouchers in Louisiana?

On Wednesday, the Louisiana Senate voted 25 to 12 for a bill that would let up to 1,500 low- to middle-income students in New Orleans attend private schools at taxpayer expense.

The bill, which has already been approved by the House, now needs one more routine vote in that body on the Senate language changes before it goes to Governor Bobby Jindal for his signature.

The bill’s supporters say it will help some New Orleans children escape a struggling school system that has for years been known for corruption, bad management and poor student performance.

Opponents point to improvements in the New Orleans public schools since the state and various charter organizations began running them after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. They say the money would be better spent on public schools.

To read the entire article, see “Louisiana Senate Passes School Plan” in the June 13, 2008, New York Times.

VEJ