Court won't allow public money to be spent on private schools in South Carolina
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Court won't allow public money to be spent on private schools in South Carolina

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South Carolina's law allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private schools violates the constitution, the state's highest court ruled Wednesday. The South Carolina case centered on part of the state constitution that says “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.” Lawyers who think the program is illegal said giving the private schools public money is a direct benefit even if the program allows students to pay fees or transportation to attend a public school outside of their district. Hill's sharply written ruling tracked the history of why South Carolina voters had to amend their constitution in 1972 to affirm the right of a free public school education for all children after state lawmakers spent two decades trying to keep Black children from going to school with white children through a flurry of maneuvers and proposals including eliminating public school entirely. The chief justice also suggested other programs where private money goes toward public education institutions like college scholarships paid with money from the state lottery or the pre-kindergarten program First Steps.

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History of this topic

South Carolina again faces showdown over spending public money on private school tuition
1 month ago

South Carolina again faces showdown over spending public money on private school tuition

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House approved its own version of a bill Wednesday that would let parents spend taxpayer money on private school tuition. “That trustee somehow magically makes those public funds not public any more,” said state Rep. Neal Collins, an Easley Republican who was one of five members of his party to oppose the bill because …

Sending taxpayer money to private schools advances in Mississippi House
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Sending taxpayer money to private schools advances in Mississippi House

Associated Press  

A House committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would send taxpayer money from public to private schools. The move keeps alive a yearslong push from private school advocates and prompted concern among Democrats that the legislation could undermine public schools serving some of the state’s neediest students. Even if it makes you uncomfortable, even if you’re getting a million phone …

Measure to repeal Nebraska’s private school funding law should appear on the ballot, court rules
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Measure to repeal Nebraska’s private school funding law should appear on the ballot, court rules

Associated Press  

A ballot measure seeking to repeal a new conservative-backed law that provides taxpayer money for private school tuition should appear on the state’s November ballot, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling came just days after the state’s high court heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by an eastern Nebraska woman whose child received one of the first …

North Carolina GOP leaders reach spending deal to clear private school voucher waitlist
6 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina GOP leaders reach spending deal to clear private school voucher waitlist

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s Republican House and Senate leaders said Friday that they have agreed with each other on a supplemental spending proposal that includes hundreds of millions of dollars to eliminate the state’s waitlist for private school vouchers. The proposal sets aside an additional $463 million for this school year and next for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship Program …

Prove you can’t afford private school fees, council asks parents
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Prove you can’t afford private school fees, council asks parents

The Telegraph  

Parents have been asked to provide evidence they can no longer afford private school fees to secure a place at a state school. However, if you can provide evidence that you can no longer finance the independent school fees, please advise and we can make a local authority non-preference allocation.” Councils must not ask for parents’ financial status All children …

A measure to repeal a private school tuition funding law in Nebraska will make the November ballot
6 months, 4 weeks ago

A measure to repeal a private school tuition funding law in Nebraska will make the November ballot

Associated Press  

Public school advocates have collected enough signatures to ask voters to repeal a new law that uses taxpayer money to fund private school tuition., according to Nebraska’s top election official. It is the second time ahead of the November election that public school advocates have had to carry out a signature-gathering effort to try to reverse the use of public …

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Families rally to urge North Carolina lawmakers to fully fund private-school vouchers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Dozens of North Carolina parents held a rally on Wednesday to urge Republican legislators to fully fund scholarships for children to attend private and religious schools after lawmakers failed to work out an agreement earlier this year to meet the program’s soaring demand. Senate leader Phil Berger also met with the advocates and expressed his support but …

Ample signatures collected for referendum to repeal private school funding law, organizers say
8 months, 1 week ago

Ample signatures collected for referendum to repeal private school funding law, organizers say

Associated Press  

— Public school advocates say they have enough signatures to ask Nebraska voters in November to repeal a law that provides taxpayer money for private school tuition, marking the latest twist in a long-running fight with state lawmakers who have repeatedly opposed efforts to let voters weigh in on the public funding plan. “Nebraskans deserve the opportunity to vote on …

Alaska court weighing arguments in case challenging the use of public money for private schools
9 months ago

Alaska court weighing arguments in case challenging the use of public money for private schools

Associated Press  

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Supreme Court is weighing a case that challenges as unconstitutional laws that have allowed families with children in home-study programs to use public money for education-related expenses at private schools. The allotments drew scrutiny after Jodi Taylor, the wife of Attorney General Treg Taylor, wrote an opinion piece in 2022 about “an opportunity — which …

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts
10 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina Senate OKs $500 million for private school vouchers, student accounts

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Senate Republicans pushed legislation through their chamber Thursday to set aside roughly $500 million more for now for programs that provide taxpayer money to help K-12 students attend private schools and eliminate their waiting lists. During Thursday’s hour-long floor debate on the issue, Senate Democrats argued it was unfair for the wealthiest families to receive …

North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers
10 months, 3 weeks ago

North Carolina Republicans seek hundreds of millions of dollars more for school vouchers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Addressing a sharp increase in private-school grant applications, North Carolina Republicans advanced legislation on Wednesday to spend hundreds of millions of dollars now to eliminate a large waiting list this fall for Opportunity Scholarships and to permanently meet expected higher demand. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted for legislation that would spend another $248 million in the coming …

Public school advocates again face how to stop school choice in Nebraska
11 months ago

Public school advocates again face how to stop school choice in Nebraska

Associated Press  

— Public school advocates in Nebraska are decrying the passage of bill to directly fund private school tuition with taxpayer money as a “cowardly act” to keep voters from deciding the issue at the ballot box. The new measure will directly fund those private school tuition scholarships from state coffers, and leaves the ballot measure to repeal the private school …

Nebraska lawmakers seek to solidify taxpayer-funded school choice before voters can decide it
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Nebraska lawmakers seek to solidify taxpayer-funded school choice before voters can decide it

Associated Press  

Nebraska lawmakers are on track to pass a bill that would circumvent an upcoming ballot initiative in which voters could repeal a new state law that funds private school tuition with taxpayer money. Acknowledging that voters might reject the new law, Linehan, a Republican, is now pushing a bill that would directly fund the private school scholarships from state coffers, …

South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear
1 year ago

South Carolina House votes to expand voucher program. It’s fate in Senate is less clear

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republicans in the South Carolina House gave key approval Wednesday to a bill expanding a program allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private and home-school education even as a pilot plan is just starting and the state’s highest court is considering whether it is legal. “We can support our public school and our public school teachers, …

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor
1 year ago

$6,500 school vouchers coming to Georgia as bill gets final passage and heads to governor

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia senators gave final approval Wednesday to a plan to create a $6,500 voucher funding for private school tuition and home schooling, sending the measure to Gov. The bill would provide $6,500 education savings accounts to students attending public schools that rank in Georgia’s bottom 25% for academic achievement. They also say private schools don’t have to accept …

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage
1 year ago

Georgia school voucher bill narrowly clears longtime obstacle with state House passage

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — Georgia Republicans powered a voucher plan funding private school tuition and home schooling through the state House on Thursday, nearing a goal that has long eluded the state’s school choice advocates as GOP leaders overcame longstanding skepticism from some rural members of their party The House voted 91-82 for Senate Bill 233, passing it with one vote to …

South Carolina Supreme Court to decide if new private school voucher program is legal
1 year ago

South Carolina Supreme Court to decide if new private school voucher program is legal

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether a law passed last year allowing parents to spend taxpayer money on private schools violates part of the he state constitution banning direct aid to anything other than public schools. The case centers on the part of the South Carolina’s constitution that says “no money shall be …

Teachers’ advocates challenge private school voucher program in South Carolina
1 year, 5 months ago

Teachers’ advocates challenge private school voucher program in South Carolina

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A group of South Carolina parents and teachers’ advocates filed a challenge Thursday to a new Republican-backed law allowing taxpayer dollars to help families pay for private schools. The South Carolina Education Association and state chapter of the NAACP want the state’s highest court to toss out the program that they said runs afoul of a prohibition …

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states
1 year, 5 months ago

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states

Associated Press  

In some states, higher-income families can now use taxpayer money to cover private school tuition -- and more people than projected are taking the offer, which might force scrambles to shore up state budgets. It’s especially an issue in states like Arizona and Iowa, where at least some families whose children were already in private school can now take advantage …

Activists prepare for yearlong battle over Nebraska private school funding law
1 year, 6 months ago

Activists prepare for yearlong battle over Nebraska private school funding law

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Activists declared a victory this …

School choice debate not over as Nevada’s governor has a plan to fund private school scholarships
1 year, 7 months ago

School choice debate not over as Nevada’s governor has a plan to fund private school scholarships

Associated Press  

LAS VEGAS — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has what he calls a short-term plan to shore up a private school scholarship program, after Democratic legislators this week rejected a proposal that involved using unallocated federal money. The Republican governor announced late Friday that the AAA Scholarship Foundation — a private scholarship organization at the center of Nevada’s school choice debate …

Nebraska passes law on taxpayer money going to private schools
1 year, 10 months ago

Nebraska passes law on taxpayer money going to private schools

Associated Press  

— Nebraska lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that will channel public money to scholarships for private school tuition, despite critics who say the measure hurts public schools, benefits wealthy taxpayers and helps mostly parochial schools that can discriminate against LGBTQ+ students. Public school advocates have blasted the measure as a “school voucher scheme” that will hurt the state’s K-12 public …

Lawmakers advance expansion of private school scholarship program
1 year, 10 months ago

Lawmakers advance expansion of private school scholarship program

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama senators on Tuesday advanced an expansion of a state program that provides scholarships fueled by state tax credits for students to attend private K-12 schools. Senators voted 26-7 for the legislation that would raise the household income cap and make other changes to increase the number of students eligible for the program. The bill advanced as …

Large private school voucher expansion voted for by both North Carolina legislative chambers
1 year, 10 months ago

Large private school voucher expansion voted for by both North Carolina legislative chambers

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Families at any income level — not just the poor and the middle class — could receive North Carolina taxpayer funds for their children to attend K-12 private schools under legislation getting formal support Wednesday with votes in both chambers. Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County Democrat opposed to the program, said eliminating the income standards …

South Carolina governor signs private school voucher bill
1 year, 10 months ago

South Carolina governor signs private school voucher bill

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s governor signed a bill into law Thursday that will eventually allow up to 15,000 students in the state to use public money for private schools. Within three years, the eligibility is to be capped at 15,000 students, or about 2% of South Carolina’s school age population, for families making around $120,000 or less. Republican South …

N. Carolina GOP seeks big private school voucher expansion
1 year, 11 months ago

N. Carolina GOP seeks big private school voucher expansion

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Public money for private school tuition would be available to all of North Carolina’s K-12 students regardless of income under Republican-backed legislation that began advancing in the General Assembly on Wednesday. In a tweet last week, Cooper called the expansion proposal “worse than awful” for offering “vouchers that can be used by billionaires to send their kids …

After years, South Carolina appears set for school vouchers
1 year, 11 months ago

After years, South Carolina appears set for school vouchers

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House gave key approval to an education voucher bill Wednesday, likely clearing the way for up to 15,000 students to be able to use public money for private school tuition. They said parents should have the freedom to send their children to whatever school educates them best and the idea will help public schools, …

NC lawsuit over private school scholarship program dismissed
1 year, 11 months ago

NC lawsuit over private school scholarship program dismissed

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A legal challenge filed nearly three years ago to North Carolina’s taxpayer-funded scholarship program for K-12 children to attend private schools was dismissed Wednesday by the lawsuit’s plaintiffs. The dismissal came six months after the state Court of Appeals ruled that the case had to be heard by a panel of three trial court judges, rather than …

Public money for private school tuition bill advances
2 years ago

Public money for private school tuition bill advances

Associated Press  

— Nebraska could join 48 other states in offering public money for private school tuition under a bill advanced by the state Legislature on Wednesday, even as some lawmakers expressed concern about taxpayer dollars going to private schools allowed to turn away students based on religious tenets. Rather than appropriating taxpayer dollars directly toward private school vouchers, the bill would …

S. Carolina House OKs referendum on state aid for private ed
2 years, 1 month ago

S. Carolina House OKs referendum on state aid for private ed

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina House moved to allow the repeal of a constitutional prohibition on funding private schools with public dollars as a Republican-backed voucher plan advances in the General Assembly. Earlier this month, the state Senate passed one such program that would establish taxpayer-funded scholarship accounts for private schools available to poor and middle-class families. “Until we …

Tennessee judges uphold contentious school voucher law
2 years, 4 months ago

Tennessee judges uphold contentious school voucher law

Associated Press  

A Tennessee judicial panel has upheld the state’s school voucher law, which allows public tax dollars to be given to families to pay for private schooling. Critics of vouchers argue that the law will weaken the state’s public education system, but the three-judge panel said counties and families who sued couldn’t prove how students would be immediately harmed by the …

Private school vouchers open faith options for kids of color
2 years, 4 months ago

Private school vouchers open faith options for kids of color

Associated Press  

MILWAUKEE — On break in the hallway between St. Marcus Lutheran Church and its attached school, eighth grader Annii Kinepoway had no hesitation in explaining what she’s learned to love best here — the good Lord and good grades. “I was looking for a school that would help me.” St. Anthony is one of the country’s largest Catholic schools – …

Private school vouchers open faith options for kids of color
2 years, 4 months ago

Private school vouchers open faith options for kids of color

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I was looking for a school that would help …

North Carolina high court backs move forcing school spending
2 years, 4 months ago

North Carolina high court backs move forcing school spending

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A local North Carolina judge had the power to transfer large amounts of taxpayer dollars from government coffers to state agencies to carry out a plan to address longstanding education inequities, the state Supreme Court ruled on Friday. In another landmark decision from school funding litigation that began three decades ago, the court’s Democratic majority declared it …

North Carolina high court backs move forcing school spending
2 years, 4 months ago

North Carolina high court backs move forcing school spending

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A local North Carolina judge had the power to transfer …

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers
2 years, 10 months ago

Court clears path for long-blocked Tennessee school vouchers

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Tennessee Supreme Court's 3-2 decision overturns several lower …

SC Senate approves allowing public money for private schools
2 years, 11 months ago

SC Senate approves allowing public money for private schools

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate late Wednesday gave key approval to a bill that would allow some poorer or disabled students taxpayer money to attend a private school or a public school outside their district. Opponents of the program said it likely violates the state constitution, which prohibits spending public money on private or religious schools. More conservative …

SC Senate debates private school choice for poorer students
3 years ago

SC Senate debates private school choice for poorer students

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate’s debate on a bill that would give some poorer or disabled students money so they could pick a private school or public school outside their district will continue into next week. “Please stop bringing your politics to our classrooms.” The program would be limited to 5,000 students the first year before reaching a …

Georgia GOP senators break ranks to doom school voucher bill
3 years ago

Georgia GOP senators break ranks to doom school voucher bill

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — State senators on Tuesday rejected a plan to give educational vouchers of up to $6,000 a year to almost anyone as long as their child attended Georgia public school for a short time, spurning a push by Senate President Pro Tem Butch Miller linked to the Gainesville Republican’s bid for lieutenant governor. “If you were really going to …

SC House considering its own private school voucher bill
3 years, 1 month ago

SC House considering its own private school voucher bill

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Leaders in the South Carolina House appear to be pushing their own bill to give poorer parents money to pay tuition at private schools. Unlike some other voucher programs, the money wouldn’t come out of the state budget for public schools, instead being pulled from a contingency fund, House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith said. Rep. …

Public school parents sue over private school voucher law
3 years, 2 months ago

Public school parents sue over private school voucher law

Associated Press  

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Three parents of children who attend public schools in West Virginia have filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s private school voucher law. The suit filed Wednesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court contends the law violates the state Constitution and will siphon money away from public education, news outlets reported. The legislation originated in the GOP-led House of …

North Carolina court stops order to spend $1.7B on education
3 years, 3 months ago

North Carolina court stops order to spend $1.7B on education

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina appeals court on Tuesday blocked enforcement of parts of a trial judge’s recent order that demanded $1.75 billion in state taxpayer funds be spent — without express legislative approval — to address public education inequities. The majority on a three-judge panel sided with a request by State Controller Linda Combs that it prevent Superior …

Judge: N Carolina must spend $1.75B to narrow education gap
3 years, 4 months ago

Judge: N Carolina must spend $1.75B to narrow education gap

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina trial judge on Wednesday ordered the state to pay out $1.75 billion to help narrow the state’s public education inequities, angering Republicans who said the directive usurps lawmakers’ constitutional authority over state coffers. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2004 in the Leandro lawsuit — named after an early student plaintiff — that while …

Tennessee high court listens to school voucher arguments
3 years, 9 months ago

Tennessee high court listens to school voucher arguments

Associated Press  

Tennessee’s highest court will soon decide whether a contentious school voucher program is constitutional after attorneys made their final arguments before the justices Thursday. Last year, a lower court decided that the program violated the Tennessee Constitution’s “home rule,” which says the Legislature can’t pass measures singling out individual counties without local support. Furthermore, local counties — which help fund …

Judge asked to toss South Carolina private school money ban
3 years, 10 months ago

Judge asked to toss South Carolina private school money ban

Associated Press  

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Private schools and colleges asked a federal judge Monday to strike down the provision in South Carolina’s constitution that bars public money for private and religious schools, saying the 1895 measure is discriminatory. Daniel Suhr, an attorney for the plaintiffs with the Washington, D.C.-based Liberty Justice Center, told U.S. District Judge Bruce Hendricks on Monday in Charleston …

SC high court rejects governor’s private school aid plan
4 years, 5 months ago

SC high court rejects governor’s private school aid plan

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Wednesday a program created by Gov. In a lawsuit filed shortly after McMaster’s announcement by groups that eventually included the Orangeburg County School District and the South Carolina Education Association, petitioners argued the governor’s program violated the South Carolina Constitution, which prevents public dollars from directly benefiting religious or other private …

Suit again targets N.C. private school scholarship program
4 years, 8 months ago

Suit again targets N.C. private school scholarship program

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Several North Carolina parents sued on Monday to halt the state’s taxpayer-funded scholarship program for K-12 children to attend private schools, saying they’re discriminated against based on their beliefs about religion and sexuality. The litigation filed in Wake County court contends the current Opportunity Scholarship Program violates several portions of the state constitution, including those protecting religious …

Supreme Court Rules State's Denial Of Funding For Religious Schools Violates Constitution
4 years, 8 months ago

Supreme Court Rules State's Denial Of Funding For Religious Schools Violates Constitution

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The Supreme Court dealt a victory to private school choice advocates on Tuesday in its ruling on a landmark case that could open the floodgates for allowing public dollars to fund religious institutions. In 2018, the Montana Supreme Court found this in violation of a state constitutional provision barring public dollars for religious schools. Also dissenting, Justice …

Supreme Court Could Be Headed To A Major Unraveling Of Public School Funding
5 years, 2 months ago

Supreme Court Could Be Headed To A Major Unraveling Of Public School Funding

NPR  

Supreme Court Could Be Headed To A Major Unraveling Of Public School Funding Enlarge this image toggle caption Jessica Gresko/AP Jessica Gresko/AP In a case with potentially profound implications, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority seemed ready to invalidate a provision of the Montana state constitution that bars aid to religious schools. The Montana court said that the subsidy violated …

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