Written by Don ByrdThe school voucher program in Indiana is growing rapidly, from just under 4,000 2 years ago to just under 20,000 this school year. That’s more than $80 million of public funds flowing to private education, including many religious schools. One dispute that has grown right along with it is the content of the science curriculum. Courts have well-established that public schools may not teach creationism or intelligent design as part of the science curriculum, because it improperly promotes religious beliefs that are unrelated to the science curriculum and the scientific method.
Written by Don ByrdA lawsuit filed by a group of North Carolina public school advocates challenges the state's new school voucher program that allows parents to use taxpayer money to fund private or religious school tuition. The suit argues the scheme violates the state constitution's requirement that school funds be used exclusively for a uniform public school system.
Written by Don ByrdIn a unanimous ruling yesterday the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the state’s education funding mechanism that allows parents of students with disabilities to spend public money on private school tuition, including religious education. Plaintiffs challenged the law, citing Arizona’s constitutional prohibition on funding for religion, but the court rejected that argument.The religious element of the education, the court seems to say, is only an incidental feature of the educational choice.
Written by Don ByrdToday the National Coalition for Public Education touted a new survey showing a strong majority of Americans oppose school vouchers.
