WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday rejected direct private-school vouchers for hurricane victims, but its proposed aid for private schools still drew fire from public educators.

In amending a massive budget bill, senators took aim at helping the Gulf Coast schools damaged by Hurricane Katrina — and the schools nationwide that have enrolled displaced students.

Vouchers, one of the most politically touchy issues in education, entered the debate again. Supporters of these private-school scholarships say they offer much-needed choice for poor children, while critics say they rob money from public schools at taxpayer expense.

By a 2-1 margin, the Senate rejected a plan to create individual accounts of $6,000 per student, or $7,500 per disabled student. The amendment would have let parents request a payment of that money, then use it to send their kids to the private school of their choice.

Such a design — giving parents money to choose — is viewed as the truest voucher form.

A total of 68 senators voted it down — 43 Democrats, 24 Republicans and one independent. The 31 senators in favor were Republicans, including its sponsor, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada.

Then, by a voice vote, the Senate approved a $2.7 billion amendment aimed at reducing fees for college students and providing hurricane relief to school districts. Specifically, it includes $1.2 billion for public and private schools that have enrolled hurricane victims.

This one-year plan, too, includes $6,000 per student or $7,500 for a student with disabilities. The federal money would flow through public school districts, which would then be obligated to make payments to private schools based on how many children they enroll.

The Senate must still approve the overall bill, but the school relief is now in it.

Sponsors of the amendment, including Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said the Senate managed to agree on an aid plan without getting divided by a voucher fight. Federal estimates show more than 370,000 students have been forced into new schools because of the hurricane.

"So many schools in the Gulf Coast region and around the country have graciously opened their doors to children without the assistance they deserve," Kennedy said. "I believe that the response to Katrina should be as generous as the American people are. I am proud that the Senate has put aside politics and ideological battles to get the necessary aid to schools."

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings added that the Senate plan "will help educators and families impacted by the disaster to meet new demands, and to make ends meet."

But school administrators, policymakers, teachers and civil rights groups opposed the action. They said it is still a voucher plan because of the way money will flow to private schools.

"School board members are disappointed and angered by the Senate's vote to create what amounts to a national private school voucher program under the guise of emergency hurricane relief for schools," said Joan Schmidt, president of the National School Boards Association.

Ralph Neas, president of the liberal People for the American Way, welcomed the Senate's initial rejection of "an even more damaging voucher system." But the way the Senate has cleared aid to private schools, he said, is a precedent that voucher advocates can exploit.

Critics said they favored a different model, already established under law, in which school districts purchase services from private schools but retain oversight over the money.

In the House, Republican leaders have also offered to create accounts for parents of children affected by the hurricane, but that plan was rejected by the education committee.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, the chairman of the committee, is working with House leadership to get the provision included in the chamber's final budget bill.

On The Net:

Senate: http://www.senate.gov

House: http://www.house.gov