TOPEKA - The Kansas State Board of Education delayed action Tuesday night on controversial proposals that would allow tax money to be spent in private schools.

The decision came at the end of a daylong meeting packed with public school superintendents from across the state as well as proponents of vouchers and charter schools.

Education Commissioner Bob Corkins and his transition team have urged the board to approve the measures as a way to introduce more competition into the school system, which they contend will stimulate innovation.

As proposed, parents of at-risk and special education students could receive vouchers equivalent to the tax money that would be spent on their children in the public school. That money could be spent on tuition at private schools.

Charter school proposals, if rejected by local school boards, could be appealed to the state board, under Corkins' plan.

Corkins said the proposals would help the state comply with a Kansas Supreme Court order to close the achievement gap between successful students and those failing to achieve at their grade level.

"That's the big decision before the state today," Corkins said.

Critics on the board said the effort is misguided. Carol Rupe of Wichita said the board should be focusing on proven methods such as early childhood education.

"That's what I wish we were discussing today," she said.

At the public hearing, African-American parents from Topeka and Kansas City said charter schools should be an option for at-risk students who are not succeeding.

Sparkle Sherrod of Topeka said the public school "failed my son."

"They didn't have the appropriate alternatives to meet my child's need," she said.

A Maize parent, however, urged the board not to allow use of tax dollars for children to attend private school. Phyllis Major said she initially took her two sons out of public schools because she wanted them to attend a religious school.

After a year, she said, the school urged her to return one of her sons to the public school after he failed seventh grade.

"He was pretty much left to fend for himself," she said. She withdrew both from the private school and returned them to the Maize district.

Two Wichitans, North High teacher David Dennis and community activist Treatha Brown-Foster, served on the transition team Corkins appointed.

Wichita Superintendent Winston Brooks, in an e-mail to the state board, said the two did not represent the Wichita school board.

"In fact, the Wichita Board of Education has made it abundantly clear that they are opposed to the proposals presented today and tomorrow by the commissioner and the transition team as it relates to both charter schools and scholarships (vouchers)," Brooks wrote.

Both Brown-Foster and Dennis said they agreed to serve on the transition team to represent students, not the district.

"I did not go up there to represent USD 259," Dennis said. "That's the superintendent and the Board of Education's job."

Brown-Foster said the district is failing to adequately serve minority students.

"The test scores are lower for black students than their white counterparts," she said. "Obviously Winston Brooks isn't doing his job. What other choice do we have?"

After lengthy debate, the board delayed action until its January meeting. Corkins' proposals appear to have the support of the same 6-4 majority that hired him to replace former commissioner Andy Tompkins.