Arizona Supreme Court Rejects Original Jurisdiction In School Voucher Challenge

Without comment yesterday, the Arizona Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to two new state tuition grant programs offering school vouchers to foster parents and parents of disabled children. The ACLU and People for the American Way brought the challenge directly in the state Supreme Court claiming that the programs violate state constitutional prohibitions against public funding for private and religious schools. Reporting on the decision, the Associated Press said that plaintiffs can now refile the case in a trial court. Praising the court's decision, the Institute for Justice said that judicial precedent indicates that the voucher programs are constitutional. In a press release it said: "School choice opponents should stop their legal battle against programs that simply empower parents choose the educational environment that best suits their children."