School officials are watching what happens with school vouchers in Harrisburg since the state Senate has signed off on the idea.

Some people believe vouchers would deplete valuable resources from failing schools, while others say vouchers will give poor families a choice they haven't had before.

The school voucher bill would give a low-income family whose children attend low-performing schools the ability to take their child's state educational funding somewhere else.

In Berks County, if a family makes less than $29,000, it could get a voucher for almost $8,000. If a family makes less than $41,000, it could get a voucher worth almost $6,000.

Currently, if you live in Reading and have school-aged children, the only place they can go to school for free is in the Reading School District.

"The voucher system is another way in which to penalize the Reading School District," said Yvonne Stroman, president, Reading School Board. 

While it may be good news for parents, the Strohman said the voucher bill could really hurt the ability for the district to improve its low-performing schools, the intermediate and senior high schools.

"You haven't measured up yet, so we're going to cut you off at the knees," said Stroman. "That's kind of a little unfair."

Stroman said she would like to see lawmakers continue to put resources into the school district instead of being punitive and taking that money away with a school voucher.

"I don't think that's in the best interest of the Reading School District," said Stroman. "I don't think that's in the best interest of our families."

The principal of Berks Catholic High School, Tony Balistrere, said he sees it differently.

"It will allow certain low-income families the ability to choose a school of their choice and certainly Berks Catholic would be one of those schools," said Balistrere.

Berks Catholic could receive students fleeing Reading High because they could afford the tuition.

"We could be busting at the seams, which would be very exciting," said Balistrere.

The school voucher is a prospect Berks Catholic would welcome.

The bill still needs to be voted on in the House, which could take a couple weeks. Gov. Tom Corbett, a supporter of school vouchers. would also need to sign it into law.