Va. governor says Educational Choice Act ‘hugely’ important; opponents say it hurts public schools

Gov.GlennYoungkincallednewfederallegislationtoallowparentstodonatetax-freetowardstheirkids’schooling—includingprivateschools—a“landmark”momentforeducationonWednesdayafternoon. However,publicschooladvocateshaveopposedthemeasure,citingconcernsaboutfundingdiversion,inequity,lackofoversight,andconstitutionalrisks.  Thelegislation,knownasthe EducationalChoiceforChildrenAct,makesiteasierforparentstosendtheirchildrentoprivateschoolsorothernon-publicoptionsbyallowingindividualsorbusinessestodonatemoneytax-freetoorganizationsthatprovidescholarshipstofamilies.  Virginiahasasimilarprogramknownasthe EducationImprovementScholarshipsTaxCreditsProgram,whichprovidesstatetaxcreditsfordonationsmadetoapprovedscholarshipfoundations.  AccordingtotheVirginiaDepartmentofEducation,thefoundationsprovidescholarshipstoeligiblestudentsattendingcertainprivateschoolsandnon-publicpre-kindergartenprograms.Ap