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A legislative meeting on a bill that would implement tuition tax credits previously scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled.

The Senate Education Committee was scheduled to discuss Sen. Howard Stephenson's SB151 at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in room 415 of the State Capitol. The bill would allow donors to receive tax credits for giving money to scholarship organizations. Those organizations would then award scholarships to students to help them attend private schools.

To qualify, students would have to score below expected or proficient on certain tests, attend schools that had received a grade of F for two years in a row under the state's new grading system, or come from families that make less than a certain amount of money.

Stephenson said Tuesday he asked that the meeting be canceled to give him more time to work on changes to the bill. For example, he said, he's working on an amendment to lower the income threshold families would have to meet to qualify for the program, calling the original threshold in the bill a mistake. He said he's also working on amendments concerning who would administer parts of the program. He said he hopes the bill will be heard during the Senate Education Committee's next two or three meetings.

Some have called the proposal another school voucher bill, although Stephenson, R-Draper, says it is not.

Stephenson has said he believes the program would empower parents of struggling students to find alternatives for their children.

He has also said he believes it would help public school teachers because the lowest performing students would leave for private schools, freeing up more time for teachers to focus on other students.

Opponents of the bill, however, have said they don't think public money should go to private schools and don't believe the bill would help those who most need academic boosts, as private schools may not accept them.

Opponents include the Utah Education Association and the state school board.

A meeting to hear the bill has not yet been rescheduled.

Lisa Schencker