A local state senator wants to bring a highly-debated school funding program to Virginia this year, but with a twist.

The school voucher program is in place in several other states and gives tax breaks to businesses that contribute to private school scholarship programs. Private schools would have to offer those scholarships to children who are eligible to receive the federal free or reduced school lunch program in public schools.

When students leave a public school, they would still be counted in the average daily census, a formula that determines how much money the state gives each district based on a per-pupil headcount. The district would lose some, but not all of the funding it receives for each student that decides to take a scholarship to go to a private school. Partial funding would continue for each year the student accepts a scholarship.

Allowing districts to keep funding, even after a student leaves, is Obenshain's twist on traditional voucher programs. He expects the funding issues for public schools to be debated in the Virginia General Assembly. One major objection to the voucher program is that it takes money away from public schools.

Obenshain says he cannot think of one instance in which a district would lose money under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.

"That's my goal to prevent that from occuring," says Obenshain. "I want it to be a win, win situation. Win, win for the families, win, win for taxpayers and for communities and for public schools."

There are many arguments for and against vouchers. Among them, proponents say it gives parents choice in where to send their children for school. Opponents say it assumes private schools are better than public schools and unfairly pits them against one another.

The National Education Association, a teacher's union, opposes private school tuition vouchers saying it takes resources away from public schools and gives them to private and religious schools. A statement on the NEA's Web site says vouchers are an alternative that divert "attention, energy, and resources from efforts to reduce class size, enhance teacher quality, and provide every student with books, computers, and safe and orderly schools."

Obenshain says he has not had contact with the Virginia Education Association, a state NEA branch, during his development of the EITC program.

"They [the NEA and VEA] are well aware of what a tremendous success this has been in Pennsylvania and Forida and it's hard to accept something different and I'm sure the VEA may perceive this as a camel's nose under the tent, kind of an issue," says Obenshain.

He says he does not want to take money away from public schools.

"I'm a public school family. I mean my two children are great products of Harrisonburg's public schools," says Obenshain. "I wouldn't do a thing to hurt the public schools, which are providing a world class education, but it's an alternative that's important."

Obenshain says EITCs give parental choice and let parents decide which school environment is healthiest for their child. He also says, because it pulls low-income students into private schools, it creates diversity.

Obenshain and his colleagues convene in Richmond for the start of the legislative session on January 14.