Denver Pre-School Tuition Plan Opposed On Church-State Grounds

A proposal will appear on the ballot in Denver, Colorado this November to increase the city's sales tax in order to fund tuition credits for families to enroll their 4-year-olds in private pre-school programs. The Rocky Mountain News reported yesterday that the Mountain States Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League has announced its opposition to the ballot measure, saying it violates principles of separation of church and state. ADL Regional Director Bruce DeBoskey said,"Although the goals of the Denver preschool plan are laudable, the proposed tax increase would raise serious church/state separation issues because it permits government funds to go to religious institutions to teach religion, without any restrictions or guidelines whatsoever on the use of those funds."