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's scheduled a briefing for Thursday to discuss what a coalition statement describes as "relevant background information, up-to-date research findings and a basic history of vouchers and school choice policy in Texas.

Democrats are pushing to persuade Republicans to restore $5.2 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 kids to private schools using vouchers.