Thank goodness, I guess, for small favors.

Earlier in the week, there was some good news: Senate Parliamentarian Says Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Vouchers Goodbye.

Later in the week, however, Republicans figured out a way to still include a version of vouchers into the bill that was more limited than the original:

But in a significant concession during last-minute negotiations in the Senate, the program will be limited to states that opt in. That could allow liberal states like California and New York to avoid participating, a win for Democrats and teachers’ unions, who contend that vouchers leech students and government dollars, leaving public schools with the most disadvantaged students who cost the most to educate.

This means schools in red states will get the short end of the stick.  As has happened in states that have vouchers now, what this basically means is that private schools will just raise their tuitions, and this national voucher program will subsidize parents who already have their kids enrolled in them.

I’m adding this info to The Best Resources For Learning Why School Vouchers Are A Bad Idea.

If you want even more info on what’s in the federal bill, check out Ed Week’s article,The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What’s in It?