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In Recession, R.I. Debates Helping Private Schools

Providence, R.I.

Educators are criticizing Gov. Don Carcieri's plan to expand tax credits for businesses that support private school scholarships while the Republican wants to cut funding for public schools to close a ballooning state deficit.

The budget that Carcieri gave lawmakers this week would expand a four-year-old program so it could offer $2 million in tax credits to companies that give money to Roman Catholic, Jewish and independent schools across the state. The credits are now capped at $1 million annually.

"If he wants to give money to people who can afford to send their kids to private schools, he should not use my tax money to do that," said Hans Dellith, interim superintendent of Pawtucket schools, an urban district that would lose $3.4 million...