RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Senate has approved a bill that would allow some students to use public funding to pay for private school tuition.
The Senate voted 20-19 to pass the bill on Monday. It would allow parents of students with disabilities to use a portion of their child's share of state school funding to cover educational expenses, like textbooks and tuition at a private school.
Supporters say the state should help students who may succeed in a different educational environment. Opponents say allowing taxpayer dollars to fund educational costs at religious schools would violate Virginia's Constitution.
The House has already approved the bill. If McAuliffe signs the bill this year, the General Assembly must approve it again next year for it to go into effect.
