Threat of suit from union riles voucher supporters

Published Jul 26, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Jul 26, 2012)

The Louisiana Department of Education and a slew of school choice and voucher supporters are today condemning a letter that was sent Wednesday by an attorney for the Louisiana Association of Educators to schools participating in Louisiana's new statewide voucher program. The letter, by Brian F. Blackwell of Blackwell & Associates in Baton Rouge, claims that any school participating in the voucher program would be receiving "an unconstitutional payment of public funds." It goes on to insist the schools inform the Department of Education that the schools will not accept funding through the program until a legal challenge over the constitutionality of the program is resolved—and concludes by saying failure to do so by 4 p.m. Friday will result in the LAE filing suit against the school. You can read the complete letter here. "Trying to prevent people from doing what's right for their children is bad enough. Doing it with no basis whatsoever is disgraceful. School starts in three weeks. It's time to put politics behind us and start focusing on our kids," was the response from Louisiana Education Superintendent John White. A statement from Eric B. Lewis, Louisiana State Director of the Black Alliance for Educational Options says: "It's time that these sophomoric tactics come to an end." The American Federation for Children—which bills itself as "the nation's voice for school choice"—was also among those who jumped into to condemn the LAE's move. You can check it's complete statement here.