This letter is in response to Daniel Kelly's misleading and inaccurate letter concerning President Bush's voucher proposal.

Vouchers are not supported by the Democratic Party, and is another Republican plan that pretends to provide aid to poor families while it is just another tax break for the rich.

First, Bush's proposal of a $1,500 voucher per child does not cover the cost of any private school tuition that I know of. As a result, children in poor families will continue to attend public schools because their parents will not be able to pay the difference between the school's tuition and the voucher.

Second, 90 percent of children who use vouchers already attend private school. Third, private schools in voucher programs are notorious for denying admission to minorities, low-achieving students and the handicapped. Fourth, studies have shown that there is no change in the test scores of children in voucher programs and, in many cases, the scores actually go down.

This country believes that private schools provide a better education than public schools, but that is simply not the case. When SAT scores of private school students are subtracted from the national average, it goes up. The United States has the No. 1 economy in the world, due in large part to public education, but all we hear about is how poorly they teach our children.

Finally, Mr. Kelly's assertion that Philadelphia's public schools are failing because of its administration is incorrect. These schools are in trouble because Tom Ridge has cut funding to public education every year since becoming governor. The solution to the so-called "public education crisis" is not vouchers, but legislation that finally provides enough money to our public schools so that they have a realistic chance at success.