The Chicago Teachers Union is blasting a proposed voucher program for Chicago's low-performing schools. The measure was approved by the Illinois State Senate this week.

The voucher pilot program would help students from some of the worst Chicago Public Schools pay to attend private schools. Their parents could get up to $6,000 to cover attendance costs.

South suburban State Sen. James Meeks, who sponsored the bill, says the vouchers will give kids an opportunity to get a better education.

But union president Marilyn Stewart says, if students start leaving the public school system, state funding will leave with them.

STEWART: Giving a child a voucher to go any where does not solve your systemic problem for lack of funding of public education.

Stewart says it's unfair that only students from the lowest-performing schools would be eligible for vouchers.

If the bill passes through the Illinois House and is signed by the governor, the voucher pilot program would begin next school  year and run through 2014. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade whose parents meet certain income guidelines would be eligible for the state vouchers.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois, which is affiliated with private parochial schools, has come out in favor of the bill.

A spokeswoman for Chicago Public Schools did not respond to a request to comment.