Unable to get school-choice legislation passed in Virginia, Del. Christopher B. Saxman, R-Staunton, has formed an advocacy organization to get grassroots support behind school choice.

"Parents need an option," Saxman told a news conference yesterday at the General Assembly Building.

School Choice Virginia is being set up as a 501(c)(4) organization that can lobby on issues but cannot support candidates.

Whitney Duff, who previously was Virginia director of Americans for Prosperity, an anti-tax advocacy group, will be executive director.

The board of directors is made up of representatives of church schools, the Virginia Catholic Conference, home schoolers and the Family Foundation of Virginia. The board also includes Keith West, a member of the Richmond School Board from the 7th District.

Saxman has seen a bill he sponsored pass the House of Delegates the past five years, only to have the Senate Finance Committee kill it. The bill would offer tax credits for businesses and individuals who make contributions to eligible public school foundations and scholarship foundations. The public school foundations would have to disburse 90 percent of their money to capital projects and for extracurricular activities.

The scholarship foundation would disburse most of the money for scholarships to allow students to transfer out of their school district to public, parochial or private schools.

"We must . . . create the kinds of opportunities where every student has the best chance at success -- regardless of parental income -- be that public, private, parochial, charter or home schooling," Saxman said.

Kevin P. Chavous, a former City Council member in the District of Columbia and one of the nation's leading proponents of school choice, said the added educational options "will force the [public school] system to be all it can be."

West said there are five public-housing projects in his district.

"Most of those children don't have a choice," he said.

Saxman said the program does not offer school vouchers, because vouchers appear to be unconstitutional in Virginia.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.