WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in the House of Representatives want to save up to $5 billion every year. This money would be for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools. It's a big and new plan to use public money for private education.

The proposal, included in a budget plan shared on Monday, would support President Donald Trump's plan for "school choice". This plan would allow families across the country to choose a different school for their children instead of their local public school. Almost all families would be able to do this, except those earning more than three times the average income in their area.

People who support giving families money for private schools say they want to give more choices to families whose children go to schools that are not doing well.

Republican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy said that letting parents choose the best school for their child helps make the American Dream possible.

People could support the program by giving money or company shares. They would get all their money back as a lower tax payment. This would help people who own shares avoid paying taxes they would usually pay on them.

Critics strongly disliked the plan. They said it would help rich people and hurt the public schools where most students study. They also said it would create a way for smart investors to make money by pretending to give a donation.

This is happening as the Trump government makes the Education Department smaller and spends less money on public schools. For example, they are cutting a billion dollars for mental health support and teacher training.

"This is a serious danger," said Sasha Pudelski. She added that states with voucher programs often help families who were already paying for private school. "It's making a big problem even worse, which is a lot of wasted money and dishonesty."

Programs that help pay for private schools, like tax credits or vouchers, have become very common in states that often vote Republican, such as Texas, which recently approved a $1 billion program. People who support public schools are concerned that these programs will reduce the number of students and the money available for each student, leaving less support for families who prefer public schools.