John Lacey's children are two of the 4,944 unsure if they can remain in their private schools now that a judge has ruled Louisiana tax collections cannot pay their tuition. Lacey, a single dad, is outraged: "You're going to tell me I have to leave my child in a failing school system?"
In April 2012, Louisiana legislators expanded a New Orleans voucher program statewide. Students zoned into public schools the state rates C, D, or F could take their public education funds to state-reviewed private schools. This amounted to 380,000 children because Louisiana schools rank in the bottom five nationally on nearly every measure, such as dropout rates and reading achievement.
While legal battles often hinge on whether vouchers unconstitutionally fund religious institutions, the Louisiana case concerns how the state funds them. It currently runs the money through the same account that pays for public schools. District Judge Timothy Kelley said that is unconstitutional.
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SOURCE: WORLD Magazine
