COLUMBIA--State lawmakers have filed an assortment of amendments that would dramatically change the intent of a bill that gives parents tax credits for private school tuition.

One amendment to Gov. Mark Sanford's "Put Parents in Charge" plan would give upfront vouchers to students at poor-performing schools. Another two call for the creation of a pilot program. Others rein in donations to scholarship organizations. And one would change the bill title to "Put Grandparents in Charge."

The nine pre-filed amendments released Thursday offer a glimpse into what the House Ways and Means Committee will consider Monday. They are just some of the many changes likely to be proposed in committee.

While the proposed changes vary, lawmakers said the message is clear: Sanford's proposed tuition tax credit plan is unsound.

"Certainly, the original bill is flawed," said Goose Creek Republican Shirley Hinson, a co-sponsor who offered one of the pilot program amendments. "It is unrealistic to think that the bill will come out of the committee the way it went in."

Under the legislation, parents would receive tax credits to defray the cost of private school tuition, home schooling or transfer to another public school. Parents are eligible if their combined taxable income is less than $75,000.

It also would allow any individual or business to donate their tax savings to a scholarship fund.

A consensus seems to be building around an amendment offered by Rep. Jim McGee that would give vouchers or tax credits to students in "below average" and "unsatisfactory" schools, as determined by the Department of Education.

The final version of this amendment hasn't been drafted, but it is similar to a previous change proposed by the Florence Republican that was directed only at the worst performing schools.

Committee members asked McGee to expand his amendment to include tax credits for "below average" schools. That compromise could garner enough support to pass, members said. "This may be a grand failing experiment, or it may work," McGee said. "But at least we can say we gave it a try."

The financial impact of McGee's proposal would be greatly less than the one released by state economists earlier this week. That analysis showed the legislation would cost the state $18.8 million in its first year. The cost would rise to $201.5 million in fiscal year 2011, when the program is fully implemented.

The state's fiscal analysis, which dealt a huge blow to the bill's support level, will be explained during Monday's committee meeting. It greatly contrasts with a study done by supporters that showed the state could save money.