colorado

A Frank Description of What Really Happened with Douglas County, Colorado’s School Voucher Program

Hundreds of children in Douglas County, Colorado, lost something precious: the opportunity to attend a school where they could learn to their fullest potential. Their school district’s voucher program—one that once represented the best hope for truly local, community control of education—has been terminated. This is the first voucher program terminated by the government entity […]

BRIEF: School Choice in the States, April 2017

April State Brief

LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION National The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 19 in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, a case arising out of Missouri that could remove a major impediment to educational choice found in many state constitutions. So-called “Blaine Amendments” have restrictive language about state funds being used by religious institutions, […]

The Five Best and Worst School Choice Moments of 2015

Top and Bottom Five School Choice Moments of 2015

Best 1. Nevada enacted two educational choice programs. We predicted in 2014 that Nevada would be the state “most likely to succeed” in becoming a new school choice state in 2015. We were right, but Nevada’s success far exceeded our expectations. The state passed not one, but two educational choice programs. It became the 26th […]

Seven Survey Snapshots of Colorado’s K–12 Education Landscape

In spring of this year, the Colorado Supreme Court issued its opinion on the Douglas County school voucher program. Since then, proponents of the program have made headway in their journey to appeal  the case to the Supreme Court of the United States. But what do voters think about Colorado’s K–12 education issues in their […]

BRIEF: School Choice in the States November 2015

School Choice in the States November 2015

National Leslie Hiner participated as a panelist in American Enterprise Institute’s event, “With all deliberate speed: Brown v. Board of Education II 60 years later.” She spoke on the successes, challenges, and next steps for integration in schools. Also at the event, Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice Senior Fellow Dr. Ben Scafidi presented findings from […]

BRIEF: School Choice in the States October 2015

School Choice in the States October 2015

National The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released a new report, The Integration Anomaly: Comparing the Effects of K–12 Education Delivery Models on Segregation in Schools, by Dr. Ben Scafidi. The report explores recent trends in both racial and income segregation in neighborhoods and schools and offers do’s and don’t’s for school choice programs aiming […]

Exploring Colorado’s Private Education Sector: Top Three Findings

Surveying Colorado's Private Schools

Hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, rafting, snowboarding, spelunking—Colorado is at the top when it comes to choices for outdoor adventures. In the last few years, it has been a pioneer of recreational choices. What many people might not know, though, is that Colorado is also a pioneer when it comes to […]

BRIEF: School Choice in the States June 2015

school choice in the states

National The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released its annual national survey of Americans on K–12 education issues including school choice, Common Core State Standards, standardized testing, and more. To read a helpful slide show of key findings and to access the full 2015 Schooling in America Survey report, visit our research page. The Friedman […]

Colorado Supreme Court Rules Douglas County Vouchers Unconstitutional

Douglas County vouchers ruled unconstitutional

Today the Colorado Supreme Court delivered a disappointing decision for hundreds of Douglas County students by ruling the first locally established school choice program in the country—the Douglas County Choice Scholarship Pilot Program—unconstitutional. About the Program The Douglas County Board of Education unanimously voted to create the program in March 2011, enacting the first and […]

BRIEF: School Choice in the States December 2014

school choice in the states

Colorado – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9 Litigation over the country’s only district-created voucher program was reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court. A ruling on the program is expected in early 2015. Parents have been vocal in their support of the program, which is being challenged by the ACLU, unions, and a group of taxpayers. Florida – […]