14,000 public school children in Ohio could be attending private school next year, even religious school, on the public dime. The State Legislature has passed a voucher program, okaying millions of public tax dollars to send students to private schools. Monday, the state began getting out the word on how the program will work. Local 12 Reporter Jeff Hirsh looks at this latest schoolhouse controversy:

Small class size is a big plus here at St. Lawrence Elementary, but too small is not good. Like many schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, enrollment here has been declining lately. But next fall, it could be going up, with public money sending children to a religious institution:

"This is Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus, good."

Private school leaders were briefed Monday on how to sign up:

"And the student application process will begin in March."

The vouchers are available to students in public schools which have been in academic emergency, the state's lowest rating based on test scores for three years in a row. There are 13 of those schools in Cincinnati. The vouchers are $5,000 for high school, $4,250 for elementary school:

"Yes, yes we definitely want to participate in this."

Alma Lee Joesting, Principal, St Lawrence Elementary: "We have much to offer besides our catholic values and good academics we have a lot of after school programs for the children."

But critics say there's a real double standard, because public school kids have to take achievement tests to determine if a school is in academic emergency, but private schools have not had to take those tests. We have no idea if a private school would have been in academic emergency or not.

"That's another huge flaw in the system, just a massive flaw."

The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers says draining money from public schools is no way to help public schools:

Sue Taylor, President, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers: "I think it's ideological and political. I don't believe its being done to improve public school education. I think it's a measure to dismantle public education as we know it."

The voucher plan could cost Ohio taxpayers more than $70 million a year.

Jeff Hirsh, Local 12.