(Columbia) April 12, 2005 - Since the debate over the Put Parents in Charge Act started in South Carolina last year, many of those supporting the idea have cringed at the idea of vouchers, but one of the bill's sponspors likes the idea and thinks one way to get the bill passed is to go with vouchers.

The House Ways and Means Committee is the next test for Put Parents in Charge. A discussion of the bill as it now stands, as well as an amendment to change it dramatically are on the agenda.

Rep. Jim McGee predicts the reaction, "I think you'll see a very divided committee."

Rep. McGee is expected to propose turning the tuition tax credits into vouchers. He says it would address some of major criticisms against Governor Sanford's bill, making it easier to pass.

The tax credit plan would be offered to all families with income of about $95,000. The new voucher plan would be available to families with children in schools which have been rated unsatisfactory two years in a row.

Under the tax credit plan, you'd pay tuition up front at the start of each semester, then get tax credit to cover a portion of the tuition costs. With vouchers, the student's original school would pay the new school up to 75 percent of the money the state spends per pupil.

And the money offered in each plan is similar, parents would receive up to about $3,000 in credits under the tax credit bill, $3,200 dollars with vouchers.

McGee says his plan would make access to the tuition money easier, "The parents in the worst situations. I know this is stereotypical, but it's the single mom making a minimum wage job and sitting in a place without property value and has a child in a failing school. How is she going to be for a tax credit?"

Most house Democrats don't like either plan, saying both would take much-needed money from public schools. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter says, "I see it as if this amendment passes, starting on this slippery slope which allows vouchers to compete with dollars for public education."

The committee ended up adjourning around five without addressing Put Parents in Charge. They spent Tuesday afternoon discussing mini-bottles.

The full committee will meet again on Monday or Tuesday. Many of the legislators think it will eventually make it to the House floor.

In the meantime, the bill is gaining support from another source. A group of of black ministers has formally endorsed the Put Parents in Charge Act.

At a morning news conference, the clergy for educational options, or CEO, also suggested some changes to the bill. One of those changes, making sure groups that can give scholarships to students to attend another school give enough of those scholarships to poor students.

Former US Senate candidate Thomas Ravenel and former state Superintendent of Education Barbara Nielsen were on hand for the announcement.

Reported by Heather Brown

Posted 10:55pm by Chantelle Janelle