Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in April vetoed a bill that would have created a voucher-like program for disabled students.
In a statement, McAuliffe said that the bill, H.B. 389, would have been in “direct conflict” with a clause in the state constitution that forbids public aid to private, religious schools.
“This bill raises constitutional questions, diverts funds from public schools, and creates an unfair system. Our goal is to support and improve public education across the Commonwealth for all students, not to codify inequality,” he added.
H.B. 389 would have allowed parents to place state funds in savings accounts and apply them to a broad range of educational services, including private school tuition and homeschool curriculum that may be religious.
Americans United’s Legislative Department wrote to the governor urging him to veto the bill.
