Gov. Tom Corbett's nominee as education secretary, Ronald Tomalis, told the Education Committee on Wednesday the administration supports "school choice" - using taxpayers' money to enable poor children in failing schools to transfer to other public or private schools.
But Tomalis stopped short of endorsing a bill sponsored by committee chairman Jeffrey Piccola that would ultimately allow any low-income students to transfer to non-public schools at public expense.
Instead, he called Piccola's bill a starting point for discussion.
A standing-room-only crowded turned out for the daylong hearing.
Piccola and other advocates call vouchers a matter of choice for poor students. Opponents say they would undermine public education.
