South Carolina Court Kills Vouchers
Finds Constitution prohibits using public funds for private schools
As state policymakers attempt to impose school vouchers in states around the country, one common impediment is state constitutions that prohibit using public funds for entities other than public schools.
That’s the case in Kentucky. As a result, the GOP-dominated legislature is asking voters to amend the Commonwealth’s Constitution to allow the use of public funds for private and even religious schools.
Vouchers would essentially create a second school system in Kentucky - one that is very expensive and drains resources from local public schools.
If Kentucky voters reject Amendment 2 this November, public funds will remain available only to public schools.
The prohibition against using public money for private schools is also the reason the South Carolina Supreme Court, in a 3-2 decision, ruled vouchers could not move forward there.
The petitioners in the case make the claim that the voucher program violates Article XI, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution:
No money shall be paid from public funds nor shall the credit of the State or any of its political subdivisions be used for the direct benefit of any religious or other private educational institution.
The majority on the Court apparently agreed, noting that legislative attempts to get around the clear language of the Constitution were transparent and problematic.
While these temporary reprieves are encouraging, it is important to note what happens when vouchers do come to fruition.
The cost of Indiana’s program has ballooned by 263% over the past five years.
The results remain less than positive.
Researchers examined an Indiana voucher program that had quickly grown to serve tens of thousands of students under Mike Pence, then the state’s governor. “In mathematics,” they found, “voucher students who transfer to private schools experienced significant losses in achievement.” They also saw no improvement in reading.
Do you think this will have an effect on Lee's plans?