With all the commotion over the debate and vote on the Property Tax Reform Amendment (the plan formerly known as GREAT), I completely overlooked the passage of SB 458, legislation that would provide vouchers for failing schools:

A bill that would grant vouchers to children who are in schools that consistently underperform or lose their accreditation — which could happen to Clayton County schools this year — narrowly passed the Senate after hours of debate Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), allows students in chronically failing schools to transfer to public or private schools. In a system like Clayton, parents would receive vouchers for $4,100, the state's portion of education funding per child, if they chose a private school.

Johnson said the bill gives parents a "life line" to get out.

"If we're on the Titanic, let's put the children in the lifeboats and worry about who hit the iceberg later," he said.

The bill passed 32-21.

A debt of gratitude is owed to Sen. Eric Johnson for continuing to take up the fight for school choice.