Thursday, January 05, 2006
Clint Bolick On Florida Voucher Decision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 5, 2006
CONTACT: Laura Devany, Alliance For School Choice
602-468-0900, 602-615-8897
ALLIANCE VOWS THAT FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULING WILL NOT SINK EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN SUNSHINE STATE
PHOENIX - Reacting to today's 5-2 decision of the Florida Supreme Court striking down the state's opportunity scholarship program, one of the most promising education reform efforts in the nation, Clint Bolick, president of the Alliance for School Choice, declared, "This decision is a travesty. It makes a mockery of the state's guarantee of high-quality educational opportunities."
"Advocates of educational opportunity will do whatever it takes to keep children in high-quality schools chosen by their parents," Bolick added. The Alliance, which is the nation's leading advocacy group supporting school choice programs for disadvantaged schoolchildren, is working with national and Florida education groups to help develop public policy responses to the Court's ruling.
The program was enacted in 1999 to allow children in failing public schools to transfer to better-performing public schools or to receive scholarships to attend private schools. The program is credited with boosting public school performance, particularly for low-income and minority children.
The program was challenged by a coalition of special-interest groups led by the teachers' union. It was defended by the state and the Institute for Justice.
The program was struck down under a provision of the state constitution that requires the state to provide for "a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools." In an unprecedented ruling, the Court held that the provision limits such opportunities to public schools with a uniform curriculum and teacher credentials. The Wisconsin and Ohio Supreme Courts rejected challenges to schools choice programs under similar provisions.
"This decision creates an educational straitjacket," Bolick declared. "Given that parental choice is triggered only when kids are in a failing public school, this ruling turns the guarantee of high-quality schools on its head."
The ruling could jeopardize alternative schooling for thousands of children, such as children with disabilities using scholarships under the McKay program; and children attending public charter schools, which do not have uniform curricula or teacher credential requirements.
"This Court is trying to halt education reform and parental choice in their tracks," Bolick said. "That's not going to happen."
Bolick led the litigation team that won the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2002 upholding school choice under the federal constitution.
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Jan. 5, 2006
CONTACT: Laura Devany, Alliance For School Choice
602-468-0900, 602-615-8897
ALLIANCE VOWS THAT FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULING WILL NOT SINK EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN SUNSHINE STATE
PHOENIX - Reacting to today's 5-2 decision of the Florida Supreme Court striking down the state's opportunity scholarship program, one of the most promising education reform efforts in the nation, Clint Bolick, president of the Alliance for School Choice, declared, "This decision is a travesty. It makes a mockery of the state's guarantee of high-quality educational opportunities."
"Advocates of educational opportunity will do whatever it takes to keep children in high-quality schools chosen by their parents," Bolick added. The Alliance, which is the nation's leading advocacy group supporting school choice programs for disadvantaged schoolchildren, is working with national and Florida education groups to help develop public policy responses to the Court's ruling.
The program was enacted in 1999 to allow children in failing public schools to transfer to better-performing public schools or to receive scholarships to attend private schools. The program is credited with boosting public school performance, particularly for low-income and minority children.
The program was challenged by a coalition of special-interest groups led by the teachers' union. It was defended by the state and the Institute for Justice.
The program was struck down under a provision of the state constitution that requires the state to provide for "a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools." In an unprecedented ruling, the Court held that the provision limits such opportunities to public schools with a uniform curriculum and teacher credentials. The Wisconsin and Ohio Supreme Courts rejected challenges to schools choice programs under similar provisions.
"This decision creates an educational straitjacket," Bolick declared. "Given that parental choice is triggered only when kids are in a failing public school, this ruling turns the guarantee of high-quality schools on its head."
The ruling could jeopardize alternative schooling for thousands of children, such as children with disabilities using scholarships under the McKay program; and children attending public charter schools, which do not have uniform curricula or teacher credential requirements.
"This Court is trying to halt education reform and parental choice in their tracks," Bolick said. "That's not going to happen."
Bolick led the litigation team that won the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2002 upholding school choice under the federal constitution.
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PermaLink | 1:55 PM |
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