Pilot school voucher bill fails

Sen. Maurice Washington on Friday said the measure lacked enough votes to make it out of the Senate Human Resources and Facilities Committee.

"I thought we had the votes but we don't," the Sparks Republican said. "If I'm fortunate enough to be back here next session, we'll try again."

The bill would have permitted the use of vouchers for students to attend private schools, including religious schools, at public expense.

Under the measure, 10 percent of the children in each of the state's 17 school districts would have been allowed to attend a private school using state funding.

The Assembly Education Committee on Thursday killed an identical bill, but approved another bill offering more flexibility in the formation and operation of charter schools.

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