4/10/11: Lawsuits Look to Derail Voucher Programs

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The Associated Press is reporting that court fights over school vouchers are popping up around the country as opponents try to derail the programs. Vouchers use tax dollars to help make private schools more affordable.

In Louisiana last week, Governor Bobby Jindal won passage of legislation that expands statewide a voucher program in New Orleans as part of broad changes to the state’s education system. Similar bills also passed in Virginia and Florida. Creating or expanding voucher or scholarship programs has been debated in several other states.

The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice estimates that about 212,000 students are using vouchers or tax scholarship programs through more than 30 such programs. The group said that total has risen dramatically since 2000.