An Oklahoma state trial court judge yesterday, in a ruling from the bench, struck down Oklahoma's school voucher program for special needs students, finding that the program violates the state Constitution's ban on use of public funds to benefit any sectarian institution. (Constitution, Art. II-5). 38 of the 40 schools eligible to enroll students under the program are Christian schools. Public school officials have strongy opposed the program, seeing it as the first step toward a broader voucher program. AP and the Broken Arrow Ledger both report on the decision. The decision is likely to be appealed directly to the Oklahoma Supreme Court under a provision that allows cases of statewide importance to go that route. (See prior related posting.)
