Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote on a motion to table a bill that would establish a tax credit and scholarship program for qualifying students to attend independent schools in the state.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a student to receive a scholarship to an in-state independent school if he or she transfers to an independent school or enters kindergarten at an independent school and meets the following criteria (Sec. 3):

• Has a household income that qualifies the student for reduced-price or free school meals or that qualifies the student's family to receive Medicaid; and -Is not a student for whom a tax credit was received due to the student attending an independent school.

• Authorizes a taxpayer to receive a tax credit for the tuition he or she pays for a student to attend an independent school, provided the student is not a recipient of the above scholarship (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the value of the scholarship or tax credit awarded from exceeding 50 percent of the state's projected allocation of funds to the resident school district for the student (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits the value of the tax credit from exceeding the total amount of tuition paid for the student (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes parents and legal guardians that teach 1 or more students at home to receive a tax credit of up to $1,000 per student for instruction-related expenses, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year (Sec. 3).

• Repeals the act 5 years after its effective date if the anticipated savings of the act have not been realized, as determined by the Office of Research and Statistics (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text