Friday, November 30, 2012
Baton Rouge — Nearly 5,000 Louisiana children are at risk of losing their school choice vouchers after the 19th Judicial District Court ruled today the program’s funding mechanism is unconstitutional. Supporters of the program are expected to appeal the court’s ruling directly to the Louisiana Supreme Court, an action that will suspend today’s ruling so that children are not adversely affected during the appeal process.
“How sad that bureaucratic funding formulas and public employee unions take precedent over parents wanting to give their children the best education possible,” said Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. “We are confident that when this ruling is appealed, the Louisiana Supreme Court will rule in favor of kids and their parents’ right to choose effective, safe schools.”
Although the decision does not impact the question of whether a child may access public dollars to attend a private school under Louisiana’s constitution, use of the usual method of public school funding to support Louisiana’s newly expanded statewide voucher program was ruled unconstitutional.
The Friedman Foundation will provide further updates as this story progresses. For the Friedman Foundation’s profile on Louisiana’s expanded school voucher program, click here.
About the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, solely dedicated to advancing Milton and Rose Friedman’s vision of school choice for all children. First established as the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation in 1996, the Foundation continues to promote school choice as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. The Foundation is dedicated to research, education, and outreach on the vital issues and implications related to choice and competition in K-12 education.
Contact
| Susan L. Meyers |
| National Media Relations Director |
| Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice |
| E-Mail: Susan@EdChoice.org |
| Phone: 404-518-2271 (cell) |
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