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Bills Aim to Fund Evacuee Learning Money Would Aid Both Public, Private

Posted on: Monday, 24 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

By GERARD SHIELDS

WASHINGTON - Two proposals, one in the U.S. House and the other in the Senate, have been introduced that would grant public and private schools at least $6,000 for each hurricane-evacuee student they enroll.

The measures are being opposed by those who fear an erosion between church and state but welcomed by officials with the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge.

A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, would create education accounts of up to $6,700 per year for displaced families. The money would follow the student, so even if a displaced child is forced to move from one school to another, the funds would still be available.

The money would be given to children enrolled in public, private or charter schools, according to Jindal, who is Catholic.

Such proposals have the support of President Bush, who has said he would support up to $7,500 per student for public or private schools.

"The president believes the federal government should help schools who have taken on additional costs of enrolling students who have left the Gulf Coast," White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo said.

But opponents of such legislation contend it violates the constitutional precept of separation of church and state. Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington is criticizing such measures as disguised school vouchers. Most of the private schools in Louisiana are Catholic.

"The Constitution does not have an exemption for natural disasters," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, the group's executive director. "Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for tuition at religious schools. This is a voucher. It walks like a voucher and quacks like a voucher."

Lynn was reacting to a Senate version of the measure, introduced by U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who is also Catholic. Kennedy's bill calls for both public and private schools hosting students displaced by hurricanes to receive $6,000 in aid per student. The total cost of the Kennedy bill is estimated at $2.4 billion.

The Jindal and Kennedy measures are supported by Sister Mary Michaeline, superintendent of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge. Michaeline testified before a subcommittee on the issue in Washington last month.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge's school system has seen an increase of 2,063 students, Michaeline said Friday.

"Thank God," Michaeline said Friday of the funding bills. "I think it's not only good, but it's necessary. The storm did not distinguish between public and private schools."

Republicans and Democrats in Congress have fought over vouchers that provide public money to private schools. Kennedy has opposed vouchers, but called his latest measure a "pragmatic" way to help storm victims. He said the bill puts in place an efficient, temporary system to help the schools.

The effort in Congress is similar in some regards to a proposal being considered by Louisiana's top school board that would use state tax dollars for 3,000 public-school students to attend Catholic schools.

Despite its longtime opposition to vouchers as a drain on public- school resources, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Thursday green-lighted discussions between state Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard and the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Picard said the plan is worth discussing because of the dramatic situation in New Orleans. The archdiocese is requesting $2,500 per student, state money that otherwise would have supported those children in public schools.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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