Governor McDonnell, Legislators, and Parents Call for Educational Options in Virginia

Hundreds Rally In Support of Scholarship Tax Credit Program for Students in Low-income Families

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hundreds of parents, students, and advocates joined Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and state legislators yesterday at a rally at the state capitol in support of creating a scholarship tax credit program for students from low-income families.

The American Federation for Children—the nation's voice for school choice—joined a broad coalition of educational advocates in hosting the rally, urging the state legislature to pass House Bill 321 and Senate Bill 241, both of which call for the creation of the state's first private school choice program.

More than 400 supporters listened as Governor McDonnell expressed strong support for the legislation in the shadows of the statehouse.  Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, several of the bills' chief sponsors, and AFC senior advisor Kevin P. Chavous also spoke at the rally.

"Students and parents are calling for real educational options in Virginia," said Betsy DeVos, chairman of the American Federation for Children.  "This legislation, with bipartisan sponsorship in the legislature and a pledge of support from Governor McDonnell, will provide strong educational choice that will change the lives of thousands of families across Virginia."

House Bill 321 and Senate Bill 241 would create a corporate scholarship tax credit program that would allow businesses to donate money to nonprofit organizations that in turn provide scholarships to Virginia students from low-income families to attend the school of their parents' choice.

Similar legislation passed the House of Delegates last year before stalling in the Senate Finance Committee. 

Chavous, a former Democratic member of the D.C. Council, urged legislators to look to the positive example set by other school choice programs in debating Virginia's bills. There are 10 scholarship tax credit programs currently operating in eight states across the country, serving more than 128,000 students.

"We cannot allow students that are not thriving in their neighborhood school to remain trapped there," Chavous said. "Across the nation, educational alternatives are transforming the lives of children in need, and it's time we give that choice to kids in Richmond, Roanoke, or rural towns across the state."

SOURCE American Federation for Children