ASBA, AEA challenge “empowerment scholarship accounts”

by David Safier

I've been waiting for this. The Arizona School Boards Association and Arizona Education Association have joined with others to present a legal challenge to the new and very dangerous "empowment scholarship accounts" law put in place by the legislature last session. What we're talking about is vouchers on steroids. Here's a closer look at the law.

The suit goes at the law in two directions.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court, the groups contend that the law is unconstitutional because it provides public funds to private or religious institutions.

[snip]

The groups contend that the law, which went into effect July 20, also is invalid because it requires parents to waive children’s constitutional rights to public education in order to enroll them in other programs.

The legislation is a creation of the Goldwater Institute, which is planning to defend it in court.