Link to Original Story

Democratic school voucher plan fails handily in Ill. House; sponsor could call for 2nd vote

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A first-of-its-kind plan to let kids in foundering public schools transfer to private ones with state help has failed in the Illinois House.

The school voucher plan would have given more than $3,700 to pupils who wanted out of Chicago's worst-performing and most overcrowded schools.

As many as 30,000 students would have been eligible for the vouchers under Chicago Democratic Rep. Kevin Joyce's plan.

The measure failed 48-66 Wednesday. But Joyce could call it for another vote later.

Democrats traditionally oppose voucher programs.

Joyce says it simply would have given helped parents get their kids out of chronically bad schools.

Opponents say money should be used to fix the failing schools.