AZ supreme court to decide school choice
The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear arguments, which could determine the future of school choice in Arizona.
In Caine v. Horne, a number of groups are challenging a state-run school voucher program for special needs and foster children.
The program allows many parents of disadvantaged children and those with learning disabilities to enroll their children in private schools where they can often get far more specialized instruction.
The Arizona Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union have challenged the program as unconstitutional, saying it provides funding for religious organizations, which are often affiliated with the private schools.
Lawyers for parents and some of the private schools argue the program only provides money to parents, leaving them with the choice of where to send their child.
The school voucher program is the fourth of its kind in the country, and the first to be challenged in court.
The AEA and ACLU have made similar challenges to the program in the past, but the court has upheld the voucher program.
Five different educational reform and parent groups have filed briefs with the court.
Parents say they plan to gather on the steps of the Supreme Court Tuesday to rally in favor of school choice. No word on when the Supreme Court might issue a ruling.
