Opponents of NJ School Vouchers Hold Rally

Education activists and parents rallied in Jersey City on Wednesday against a bill that would allow the use of taxpayer-funded vouchers for religious and private schools, calling it "a back door to privatization" of the state's public schools.

Several parents said the program would drain resources from poorer districts and undercut existing initiatives aimed at improving public schools.

Parent Luz Mayi, who said her seven children, ages 14 to 35, attended both parochial and public schools in Jersey City, said supporters of the voucher program were disingenuous in trying to sell it as an attempt to give parents school choice. Mayi said the proposal wouldn't allow children with average grades, special needs or other obstacles to be accepted at any school.

"When you talk about choice, it's not really choice," Mayi said. "They're talking about choice for them, not for the minority people."

At issue is a pilot program called The Opportunity Scholarship Act, supported by Gov. Chris Christie, which would permit about 40,000 students in 13 low-income districts to apply for scholarship vouchers to attend private or parochial schools.

The Senate and Assembly have held hearings on the proposal, but neither house has voted on it yet. It could be taken up again before the end of the year.

Expanding school choice, closing poorly-performing schools and abolishing teacher tenure are centerpieces of the governor's education plans.

Several dozen parents and education activists at the rally held anti-voucher signs in an auditorium at the Franklin L. Williams Middle School in Jersey City, and vowed to conduct more rallies across the state.

Supporters of the voucher proposal plan to hold a rally in Trenton on Thursday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)