Pa. OKs Private-Tutoring Grants to Parents

By Bess Keller

An ardent proponent of school vouchers, Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania has failed three times to persuade the state legislature to go along with him and allow the use of public money to pay for private school tuition. But last week, the Republican governor agreed to a hike in teacher pensions in exchange for a package of education bills that breaks some new ground in assisting private education.

One part of Mr. Ridge's education package—grants to parents for after-school tutoring—resembles what currently remains before Congress of President Bush's call for vouchers. Another allows corporations to get state tax credits for donations to groups that finance scholarships to private schools, or to public schools outside a student's home district.

With teachers dropping their opposition to Mr. Ridge's proposals early last week, both that legislation and the pension increases quickly passed the House and the...