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Supreme Court: Children trump system...finally!

In a 5-4 ruling issued this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Cleveland school voucher program. The program gives parents a stipend for a portion of the tax dollars that support their child’s education, allowing them to use that stipend to move their children out of schools they believe are failing their children.

The ruling reflects a sentiment already prevalent in Washington, where Seattle ranks among the highest in the nation for the percentage of parents who choose to bypass the public school system and send their children to private schools. Nearly one in three Seattle students attend private schools, according to the Census Bureau.

Lynn Harsh, executive director and senior education analyst for the Olympia-based Evergreen Freedom Foundation, made the following comments about the Supreme Court decision:

“The Supreme Court decision acknowledges that the right of children to get an excellent education trumps the right of education bureaucrats to protect their turf. The adults running the current monopoly system will just have to move over and make room for kids and their parents. What a novel concept! ”

“Forcing schools to compete for students helps every school become better - public or private. Public school officials now need to insist that lawmakers unshackle them from senseless and costly regulation so they can compete on a level playing field.”

“Perhaps this will truly end the ‘separate but equal’ hypocrisy perpetuated in our country. All parents, regardless of income or geography, now know that their children really have an opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

A press release issued by the Washington Education Association this morning asserts that the ruling is expected to have little impact on Washington’s public school system.

“It is arrogant and elitist for WEA president Charles Hasse to assume parents in our state don’t want choices when those who can afford to make them obviously do,” said Harsh. “This ruling will extend those choices to low-income families who also want an excellent education for their children.”

Read EFF's Education Policy Mission

5-4 Decision Shifts Battleground to America’s State Legislatures

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Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org