Democratic lawmakers are pushing for legislation that phases out , which are based on public school performance. Legislators say the bipartisan House bill puts the focus back on making sure the public school system is fair and efficient.
A Senate plan would continue granting EdChoice vouchers, though it would lower the number of buildings that are deemed failing and increase the income threshold for poverty-based vouchers. The House plan would only grant vouchers to low-income families.
Minority Democrats have backed the House plan because income-based vouchers are paid for by the state and not school districts. Leader of the House Democrats, , says families will still have the freedom of school choice.
"Those choices cannot be made at the expense of our public school system. We are constitutionally required to have a fair and efficient public school system," she said.
The General Assembly has until April to come up with a new plan for EdChoice, and several committee hearings have been scheduled over the next two weeks.
