AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The public opinion battle over expanded school vouchers intensifies as a group opposed to public funding for private and religious schools states its case.

The Coalition for Public Schools is a nonprofit group comprised of religious, child advocacy, and education organizations. It has scheduled a briefing for Thursday to discuss what a coalition statement describes as "up-to-date research findings."

Democrats are pushing to persuade Republicans to restore more than $5 billion cut from public schools last year. But state Sen. Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee, has proposed expanding charter schools and allowing parents to send their children to private schools using vouchers.

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