COLUMBUS — The state would spend more money on Cleveland's school voucher experiment and create a new board to monitor charter schools under a package of bills Republican lawmakers introduced Wednesday.

        The State Scholarship Program Act would increase the amount of money that the voucher program spends on children, from $2,500 to the current per-pupil spending amount, or about $4,200 this year.

        Federal courts have twice ruled the voucher program unconstitutional. The program gives vouchers to needy families with children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

        The Community School Enhancement Act would create a State Board of Community Schools to sponsor and monitor charter schools, called community schools in Ohio.

        It also would allow groups to form charter schools in districts under academic watch and not just academic emergency.

        There are 68 charter schools in Ohio enrolling about 17,000 students. Opponents say the schools aren't serving students properly and drain money from needy public schools.

        The Parental Involvement and Educational Opportunity Tax Credits Act would provide tax credits to individuals or businesses who contribute to funding organizations that benefit public and private schools.

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