RALEIGH - Opposition from the state's top public education groups has blocked a bill that would help some parents of special-needs children pay the cost of sending their children to private schools.

Supporters of the legislation insist the $6,000-a-year tax credit for families will save taxpayers money and help children get the services they need. But opponents complain that it will take money from public schools and is the first step toward helping any family send their children to private schools.

"It opens the door for other tax credits and voucher programs," said Leanne Winner, lobbyist for the N.C. School Boards Association. "Other groups will use this opportunity."

Opposition from the School Boards Association, State Board of Education, state Department of Public Instruction, N.C. Association of School Administrators and N.C. Association of Educators has essentially eliminated the chance it will be approved this year. The General Assembly is expected to end its session this month.

"Our first challenge should be to make it better for children with special needs in the public-school setting," said Cecil Banks, chief lobbyist for the N.C. Association of Educators.

The opposition frustrates parents who say they just want to improve their children's education.

"I can't believe education groups are against this," said Catherine Eubanks, parent of an autistic child and the principal of Eastern Wayne Middle School in Goldsboro. "It gives parents of special-needs children extra help."

The state House and Senate bills, which have support from Democrats and Republicans, would allow parents to claim a tax credit of as much as $6,000 a year for each special-needs child. They could use it to pay tuition at private schools. Parents of home-schooled children could use it also to pay for services.

To be initially eligible, the child would have to have been in a public school the year before, would have to be formally designated as being a special-needs student and would have to have received daily special services outside the regular classroom.

Education officials estimate that about 58,000 of the state's 194,182 special-needs students would be eligible to leave the public schools and get this tax credit.

The General Assembly's fiscal research division estimated that if 2,913 students left to use the tax credit the state could have a net savings of $7 million a year. The tax credit would be $2,000 less than the average cost of educating a special-needs child.

"It's win-win situation," said state State Rep. Paul Stam, an Apex Republican and co-sponsor of the House bill. "I don't know why the education bureaucracy has come out against it."

Parents such as April Raines of Raleigh say they'd like to see what they could do with the tax credit. Her son, Jermanic, 5, has attention deficit hyperactivity disorde.

"If there's something better out there, I want to help him," she said.

The legislation has won qualified backing from Arc of North Carolina. The nonprofit group advocates for people with mental retardation and other disabilities.

"The bottom line is that public education for special-needs children in North Carolina has to improve," said Ellen Russell, director of advocacy for Arc.

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