Tuition bill expanded

People whose income qualifies them for reduced-price school lunch, which current federal guidelines set at $34,873 for a family of four, would get a $3,750 credit under the new bill, Ferrin said.

The credit would shrink as income levels rise. Those making 275 percent to 300 percent of the reduced price lunch level — about $95,900 to $104,600 for a family of four — would get a $500 credit. Those making more would not qualify, Ferrin said.

Ferrin believes the bill would encourage low-income families to attend Utah's private schools, whose average tuition, he said, is $4,000 a year.

Ferrin says the bill also would free up room in schools for a coming enrollment boom and save the state money. As he sees it, if the state pays parents to switch to private schools, the remaining money it spends to educate that child can go toward others in the public school system.

Education Excellence Utah spokesman Royce Van Tassell said he believes the bill is "very good" and that the changes would not skew its fiscal impact.

Van Tassell says not giving credit to people already in private schools would be unfairly punishing them for seeking alternatives that better fit their children's needs.

A state-commissioned study by two Utah State University professors indicated the state would save money if enough people switch to private schools under Ferrin's original bill.

But that study has been questioned by economists assembled by associate state superintendent Patrick Ogden. They said it used inappropriately inflated numbers to calculate savings.

The State Board of Education has voted, with three dissenters, to oppose tuition tax credits. Board member John Pingree says extending credits to current private school families takes the bill from bad to worse.

"Why should we give them anything, or take public money out of a system that is (financially) hurting?" Pingree said.

"This is just backward thinking to me. Clearly the state Constitution says public money should not be used to fund private education. This is going to get challenged."

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