Proposed fund would give parents school cash

Parents would be able to spend the money that goes to their public school as they see fit under a new bill proposed in the legislature.

While they acknowledge it is unlikely to pass this session, the Republican leaders who proposed the bill say parents deserve more control in their children's education.

Called the "Parent Empowerment Education Savings Account Act," HB 353 would allow parents to place a percentage of the per-student funding that goes to a public school into accounts with the state treasurer's office. They could then spend the money from those accounts on whatever educational purposes they choose, as long as they do not enroll their student in a public school.

"We always talk about how, in Delaware, the money follows the child. But that's only true within the government schools," said House Minority Whip Deborah Hudson, one of the bill's sponsors. "That unnecessarily limits some kids, and we want to change that."

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