States Giving Choice Bills A Closer Look

By Darcia Harris Bowman

Taking on one of the most divisive issues in education, a majority of state legislatures are examining proposals this year that would allow families to use public dollars or tax breaks to help send their children to private schools.

Both supporters and proponents of school choice agree that most of this year's bills stand little or no chance of becoming law, a fate they share with most similar proposals in years past. But some analysts say last year's passage of the nation's first statewide voucher program in Florida is encouraging states to take a harder, longer look at such plans.

"The number of states with legislation proposed is similar to other years; the seriousness of debate around these policies is what has changed," said Eric Hirsch, a senior analyst for the Denver-based National...