Gov. Sonny Perdue has signed into law a program that allows disabled children to attend the school of their choice on the state's dime.
In this new program, parents can use voucher money to take their children with special needs out of their neighborhood school and put them in another public school, or a private one.
"We've seen over and over that when parents take charge of their family's education, I believe families win," Perdue said. "The competition that results from parental choice will raise all boats, benefiting all the special needs children of Georgia."
Each voucher will be worth the same amount the state pays to teach a special-needs child in public school—roughly $9000 per year now. Children must spend a year in public school to qualify for the program.
At the same meeting, Perdue told reporters that he will speak Saturday to Republicans at the GOP convention about his principles of governing.
"I think I will describe to them what my convictions are about being a true conservative and how I think true conservatives act," he said.
Perdue says he will not discuss his argument with state House Republicans over the 2007 midyear budget.
He struck a property tax cut from the budget before signing it.
He says he will use his line-item veto power again on the 2008 budget later this month.
Some conservative bloggers are urging convention-goers to walk out during Perdue's speech tomorrow in protest of the veto.
In this new program, parents can use voucher money to take their children with special needs out of their neighborhood school and put them in another public school, or a private one.
"We've seen over and over that when parents take charge of their family's education, I believe families win," Perdue said. "The competition that results from parental choice will raise all boats, benefiting all the special needs children of Georgia."
Each voucher will be worth the same amount the state pays to teach a special-needs child in public school—roughly $9000 per year now. Children must spend a year in public school to qualify for the program.
At the same meeting, Perdue told reporters that he will speak Saturday to Republicans at the GOP convention about his principles of governing.
"I think I will describe to them what my convictions are about being a true conservative and how I think true conservatives act," he said.
Perdue says he will not discuss his argument with state House Republicans over the 2007 midyear budget.
He struck a property tax cut from the budget before signing it.
He says he will use his line-item veto power again on the 2008 budget later this month.
Some conservative bloggers are urging convention-goers to walk out during Perdue's speech tomorrow in protest of the veto.
