Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander wants billions in federal education dollars to be made available to low-come families to send their children to a public or private school of their choice.
Alexander planned to introduce a bill Tuesday that would pay the $24 billion annual price tag by redirecting 41 percent of federal education money.
Alexander is a former U.S. education secretary. The planned bill filing comes the same day President Barack Obama delivers a State of the Union speech, thereby drawing a contrast to the president's plans. Many Democrats oppose such school choice measures, but they are more widely accepted among Republicans.
Under Alexander's plan, about $2,100 in scholarship money would go annually to eligible families to use for private school tuition or for public schools such as charter schools.
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
