ROCK HILL, S.C. - The legislative session won't begin until January, but supporters and opponents of tax credits for parents using private schools already are drawing battle lines.

For instance, Gov. Mark Sanford promises another push for the Put Parents in Charge Act, a bill that never won debate in a full committee during this year's legislative session.

Under that failed bill, families earning under $75,000 yearly could get tax credits for 80 percent of private school tuition on property or income taxes. Home-schooling families also could use the credits. The credits would be limited to $3,200 for a kindergarten student, $4,000 for a student in first through eighth grades and $4,600 for high-school grades.

It would take five years to fully implement and the state Board of Economic Advisors estimates it would cost $234.4 million.

Critics say it is a backdoor approach to creating school vouchers.

The South Carolina School Boards Association and other groups are ready for the onslaught. For instance, a committee of Rock Hill school board members and more than 20 parents of public school students recently met to exchange information and plan their campaign.

"It's probably time to circle the wagons involved in the battle," board member Walter Brown told the crowd. "There's a pretty good chance it will get through the House."

While supporters say it would allow poor children struggling in public schools to attend a private school, opponents say low-income families could still not afford private schools and that a child who is failing may never be accepted by a private school.

Opponents also say the credits amount to more than the state now is putting into per pupil spending. While supporters say fewer students can cut costs for public schools, opponents say schools will continue to have to pay for fixed costs, including utilities, transportation and labor with less money.

The change is needed, Sanford spokesman Will Folks said. "For too long we've been loyal to the education bureaucracy, but we haven't been loyal to kids who are getting left behind," Folks said.

The legislation is expected to have an easier time passing the House than the Senate.

For instance, state Sen. Greg Gregory, R-Lancaster, told the Rock Hill school board and parent committee he would only support the bill if the state fully funded the Education Finance Act, which requires so much state money per child.

"We are so far from funding EFA now," he said, "I don't see that happening."

Concessions would have to be made for the bill to become law, Gregory said, including some state control over private schools accepted students with the tuition tax credit.

If he ran a private school "I'd be wary of any legislation that puts some state control over my school if it takes state money," Gregory said.

The bill's critics could mount a Senate filibuster, Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, said. "I think it will be difficult to get a bill this controversial through," he said.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.heraldonline.com/