By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – A legislative committee meeting in St. Louis Friday heard from people on both sides of the debate over tuition tax credits.
The House Special Committee on School Choice is drafting legislation that would let students in poorly-performing districts transfer to other schools both public and private.
Tuition money would come from a private fund, and any person or company that donates to that fund would receive state tax credits.
Peter Clark is with the National Black United Front. He favors the plan.
"You do have choice going on," Clark said. "People who have a lot of money, Congress members, they have a choice to send their children to where they can get an excellent education. Poor parents don't have that choice, and they should have that choice."
Opponents of the plan, including St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Diana Bourisaw say it will take vital funding away from public schools.
"Tuition tax credits really deplete funding from public education and we are already an underfunded institution as it is," Bourisaw said. "The state budget is very tight. I think it'll be a struggle for those that are in favor of that to get it accomplished."
Missouri lawmakers could vote on the school choice proposal during the next legislative session, which begins in January.