Tribune Editorial- ANOTHER VOTE ON SCHOOL CHOICE

In early May, the Illinois House failed to pass a bill that would offer private school tuition support to 30,000 kids who go to the city's most-crowded and worst-performing public elementary schools in Chicago. But there's still a chance to pass the bill.

"I think the 60 votes are sitting there right now," says Rep. Kevin Joyce, D-Chicago, the bill's chief House sponsor.

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That's the magic number for a majority in the House. When the tuition bill was called for a vote, sponsors believed they had 60 members ready to support it. A handful of those expected supporters didn't come through, though. And as the tally went on and it was clear the bill would fail, other supporters switched their votes to "no." They didn't want to irk the teachers unions if the bill was going to come up short anyway.

"I had members come to me two minutes before (voting) closed and said, 'We're off,'" Joyce said.

Joyce put the measure on postponed consideration, before the final vote was recorded, so the bill can be revived. And he believes the votes are there. The bill has already passed the Senate.

The key is to get another vote in the House, which goes back to work in Springfield on Monday.

Budget matters are going to consume the final days of the session. But there has to be time for legislation that would give a wonderful opportunity to so many kids without costing the state more money.

To recap: The kids would be given a voucher by the state worth about $3,700, which they could apply to private school tuition. The Chicago school system would manage the program. Chicago would lose the $3,700 it gets from the state, but would also shed the cost of educating the child. The state, the city—and most important, the child—come out ahead.

A vote now, rather than waiting for lawmakers to reconvene in November, would give Chicago ample time to prepare for a school choice program that would launch in Fall 2011.

So, let's go. One more vote.