Lawsuits Challenge County School Voucher Program

Two lawsuits were filed yesterday challenging on state constitutional and statutory grounds a pilot school voucher program enacted by the Douglas County, Colorado, Board of Education.  At issue is a program that will provide up to 500 students now enrolled in the county's public schools scholarships to attend approved Private School Partners. Of the schools approved for the program so far, 14 of 19 are sectarian religious schools. The first of the two lawsuits (press release) was filed by the ACLU and Americans United. The complaint (full text) in LaRue v. Colorado Board of Education, (CO Dist. Ct., filed 6/21/11), alleges that the Choice Scholarship Plan violates numerous provisions of the Colorado constitution dealing with education and religious neutrality, as well as the state's Public School Finance Act. A second similar lawsuit was filed by Taxpayers for Public Education, an organization of Colorado parents and taxpayers. (Press release). Education News Colorado reports on the lawsuits.