In theory a proposal by Republicans in the state Senate that would allow families to use a tax credit to enroll their child in private schools makes a lot of sense.

Senate Bill 1280 would establish the Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, worth up to $8,000 per student, that families could use to reduce their tax liability and cover educational expenses, including private school tuition. The idea, particularly in bigger cities where there are more private schools, is that parents should be able to enroll their child in the school of their choice, with their “share” of state tax dollars used to pay for part of their private school tuition.

There are three problems that Republicans’ haven’t explained yet, though, that must be fleshed out.

First is how $2 billion in additional spending on education is going to be paid for in a way that meets a recent court decision by the Commonwealth Court.

We also don’t see how diverting money from public to private schools helps the Warren County School District, which is struggling to remain financially viable and is considering, once again, the possibility of closing a school building to balance its budget.

The third problem, though, is one that some Republicans don’t seem to have considered – where are families in rural areas supposed to use those tax credits? While Warren County does offer the Tidioute Community Charter School and St. Joseph Catholic School, other rural areas don’t have such options.

“One of the problems I personally have with the voucher program, (there is) not a choice in a lot of the rural areas for school choice,” WCSD Board President Paul Mangione said regarding a different voucher program. “I don’t see why politicians keep pushing something most of our students do not have access to in the first place.”

The time, in our opinion, isn’t right for an expansion of school vouchers. It is likely to hurt schools in rural areas throughout the state and is spending that we can’t see the state affording right now.