Senate passes voucher expansion bill, while supporters rally

The Florida Senate passed a bill this morning that would expand a private school voucher program.

The bill, which would increase the amount of money the state would allocate per child, cleared the Senate on a 27-11 vote while. The bill now goes to the House.

Thousands of voucher supporters, including some from the Tampa Bay area, held a rally outside the Capitol today at the very time the Senate vote was expected to take place.

They're supporting the Step Up for Students program, which provides scholarships to children from lower-income families in kindergarten through 12th grade. The scholarships allow students to consider a private school or out-of-district public school that may better suit their needs.

A group of 30 people from Tampa Bay Christian Academy boarded a bus before 4 a.m. today to make the journey. The program benefits 42 students at the school.

Parents and school representatives say it gives lower-income families a choice when it comes to their children's education.

"It gives them a chance to be in classes they might not ordinarily be in, have some more individual attention and give them a chance to succeed where they might not succeed somewhere else," said Bill Brown, a teacher with the school.

Alejandra Alonso's daughter Hefziba has benefited from the program since the sixth grade.

"It's been so good for her. She's a senior this year. She's going to be a valedictorian of her class," Alonso said. "She has straight A's, all her classes, and she's just excelling."

The Tampa Bay Christian Academy group will return home tonight

Step Up for Students is an initiative of the 2001 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Under the program, students who meet federal guidelines can qualify to receive up to $3,950 to attend a qualifying private school or $500 for transportation to attend a public school in a different district, according to the program's Web site.