Fla. House approves expansion of voucher program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The state’s main voucher program for low-income children could expand under a bill approved by the Florida House.

The House approved the bill 73-43 Friday along party lines.

It’s still not clear, however, if the bill would be accepted by the Senate. Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said the House legislation (HB 7167) lacks a testing requirement that he says is needed before the program grows.

Nearly 60,000 students from low-income families attend private schools as a result of the current voucher program. State figures show that more than 80 percent of the schools participating are religious.

The bill passed by the House also would expand a separate program that aids disabled children. The Senate is advancing a similar bill to help parents of disabled children to get additional services.