Fla. Governor Says He'll Sign Statewide Voucher Program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Florida Legislature has given final approval to a statewide voucher program, which a Florida Catholic education leader called “a significant breakthrough.''

Gov. Jeb Bush, who campaigned on the issue last year in the Florida gubernatorial race, said he would sign the measure, which was approved by the state Senate April 30. The House approved the proposal two days earlier. Critics have said they will file suit to block its implementation.

Under the bill, all students in Florida's worst public schools will be eligible for vouchers of about $4,000 a year to help pay for tuition at private or parochial schools, or parents could choose to send their children to another public school.

The language of the bill “specifies that parents will be afforded the right to choose the schools — be it public, private or parochial — they deem are best suited for their children who are in chronically low performing schools,'' said Larry D. Keough, education coordinator for the Florida Catholic Conference..

Under the program all public schools would be rated annually by the state on a grade scale from “A'' to “F.''

The voucher is eligible to students whose school has received an F grade in the past year and it has received that designation for the second time in four years.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis