"They're telling us we're going to fail," said Carnahan, a mother of two private-school students. "They're saying they don't have faith in us and are judging us by our current income."

Carnahan was among parents and children who met at St. Francis Xavier Regional School in Kearns on Friday. They joined the pro-voucher group Parents for Choice in Education to dispel what they see as one of the opposition's biggest arguments: that many of Utah's poorest families would have a hard time benefitting from vouchers.

Utahns will vote Nov. 6 on whether to implement a statewide voucher program that would give students money to attend private schools. Utah families could receive $500 to $3,000 a year per child depending on income. But anti-voucher groups say the average private school tuition is about $8,000 and pro-voucher groups peg it at about $4,000.

The lower number comes from leaving out the most expensive schools, which proponents say skew the average. Opponents say an average should include all schools.

Voucher opponents say Utah's poorest families won't be able to make up the difference between the amount of a voucher and actual tuition.

"For many families in Utah, vouchers would be a false hope, a false promise and a false opportunity," said Utahns for Public Schools spokeswoman Lisa Johnson. "We want to make sure voters understand how difficult it would be to attend private school on a voucher."

Johnson said money isn't the only barrier. Voucher students likely would have to find their own transportation to school, a difficult proposition for parents who work and might live far from the nearest private school. Also, private schools can turn students away for a variety of reasons.

"If you can't afford the rest of the tuition or you live hours from the nearest private school or your child is rejected from the private school and can't get admitted, those aren't real choices," Johnson said.

Johnson said she'd rather see money for vouchers invested in public schools, where it could help all students.

Parents at Friday's news conference, however, said voucher opponents underestimate them.

Parent Maui Estey said she and others are willing to do whatever it takes to give their children the best education, even if that means making sacrifices. She said her husband already works two jobs and she works one. She hopes to eventually put her young child in private school.

"The voucher program would allow us to put our child in a private school without working a fourth job," Estey said.

Nancy Essary, principal of St. Francis Xavier school, said parents find a way. She said there's no question students from low-income families could attend her school with vouchers.

"They're already here," Essary said. She said 28 percent of her school's students could qualify for free and reduced-price meals because they come from low-income families. The school, which charges nearly $5,000 a year for non-Catholic elementary students, provides tuition assistance and holds fundraisers to help them.

She said distance hasn't stopped determined parents, either.

"I've had parents drive from Lehi," Essary said. Lehi is more than 20 miles from the school.

She said this year the school has about 30 open spots and two special-education teachers for students with mild to moderate disabilities.

"We are frankly tired of being told vouchers won't help us," said parent Richard Green, who has four children now in private school. "All we want is some help. Sometimes all the sacrificing a family can do isn't enough."

lschencker@sltrib.com