AUSTIN (AP) – Texas Senate leaders have unveiled a package of education reforms that includes an effort to help some public school children attend private schools.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick of Houston outlined the proposals Wednesday at a Roman Catholic elementary school in Austin.

The Austin-American Statesman reports that Patrick backs a “tax credit scholarship” for low-income students. His plan provides businesses that donate to private school scholarship programs a credit on what they owe the state in franchise or insurance taxes.

Patrick is also calling for raising the cap on new charter schools and allowing students to transfer to any public school or district.

The senator, when it comes to accountability and testing, proposes a system of letter grades for measuring school and district performances.

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