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Politics

FSBA Won't Appeal Judge's Dismissal of Voucher Lawsuit

June 10, 2015 - 6:45pm

The Florida School Boards Association, one of the groups heavily invested in the lawsuit over Florida's Tax Credit Scholarship program, decided Wednesday it wouldn't be appealing a Leon County Circuit Court judge's dismissal of the case.

Meeting in Tampa, the group decided by a 21-9 vote that it wouldn't be appealing Judge George Reynolds' ruling to dismiss the case. Reynolds decided last month the Florida Education Association and other plaintiffs did not have standing to pursue the suit.

The student voucher program is the largest in the state, providing scholarships to roughly 70,000 low-income students, many of whom are minorities.

FSBA's decision to forego an appeal could put a dent in the support for the lawsuit for the Florida Education Association, the group which largely spearheaded the lawsuit.

Parent groups backed the FSBA's decision as a step in the right direction for Florida's students.

"I commend the FSBA on its decision," said Howard Coker, attorney for scholarship families named as defendants in the suit. "It is truly in the best interest of not just the scholarship children, but all schoolchildren -- including those in the public schools.”

The case was filed last August based on the groups' belief that the program violated Florida's Constitution by redirecting taxpayer money to religious institutions. Florida's Constitution prohibits state aid for religious institutions; a majority of students participating in the program choose to attend religious private schools.

The groups also contended the voucher program was harmful to public schools and funneled much-needed funding away from public schools that need it most.

Reynolds ruling refuted such claims.

Whether any diminution of public school resources resulting from the tax credit program will actually take place is speculative, as is any claim that any such diminution would result in reduced per-pupil spending or in any adverse impact on the quality of education, read the ruling.


The Florida Legislature created the voucher program in 2001 under then-Gov. Jeb Bush. Since then, thousands of students have attended different schools using the voucher money.


The Florida Education Association still hasn't announced whether it will appeal the court's ruling, but it seems likely -- FEA Vice President Joanne McCall has said she would take the case all the way to the Florida Supreme Court if necessary.

 

Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen

Comments

My daughters' name is Sulame Berhe last year she had scholarship . But i did not re apply because i had no ideal which month i have to apply . So please put this in to consideration renew my scholarship thank you if you need if you need more information call me 9044501691

One by one!!!! Thank you School Board! Teacher's Union fall in line please, and do the same!

Thank God!!! and the school board for realizing fairness and our children education.

As a single mother of 2 scholarship recipients it does my heart good knowing my wee ones do not have to enter the over-crowded, horribly managed public school system. I worked 2 yrs as a substitute teacher in Duval County and saw first hand how some teachers consider their students another number instead of a person. I wanted my children in a loved, one-on-one environment with Christian principals. Because of this scholarship program I can send my wee ones to a school of my choice and not one from which my zip code determines. Salud!! Step-Up your loyalty to our children is unmatched.

Great!

A very proud day in America, I was a victim of the public school harsh environments which included being bullied, ineffective teachers and powerless principals and told myself I would never let my children go through such torture. Thanks FSBA for taking the honorable way out.

So glad the judge saw this for what it was and dumped the case.

Thank you school board for not interfering with our choice for our kids education.

Thank you! This is a blessing for the children of Florida. Thank you, school board, for this graceful decision!

Yes we did it !!! Thanks for all of us...

That's YOU. You made them drop this suit - don't ever forget that you did this for all our kids. Thank you for your time, your effort, your advocacy. We wouldn't be here without you.

The future of my kids is my choice, thanks for understanding that FSBA Hope you work harder to make all kids in public schools happy, with no bullying and acceptance as they are, no matter what race, collor... Work for the students benefits, always! Thanks again!

Good news, all education should be managed without government's anti-student regulations. Education is for education of students, not to provide teaching jobs.

Good for the FSBA. They know they will lose in court. Besides, win in the court of Public Opinion and NOT in the court of law!

As a plaintiff in this case I wish to dispute the notion that Judge "Reynolds ruling refuted such claims." There was no such refutation of any claims, as the case was not dismissed on its merits but rather with the contention that we, the plaintiffs, are not "damaged" by a scholarship program that diverts nearly a quarter billion tax dollars each year to private schools, three-quarters of them religious schools. Who makes up that quarter billion tax dollar loss from the Florida State Treasury? All of us, taxpayers in the State of Florida! The dismissal was on standing and not on the merits of this lawsuit!

Truly funny stuff...say it enough and people will believe you...There is NO tax dollar loss. It would be spent for schools anyway and that would be for pay and benefits for admin and teachers that we taxpayers are shielding our children from. Oh yes, these alternate schools stand far above the public schools. They return to Florida young women and men who desire to excel and not accept social promotion and not become part of the entitlement system and then TRULY drain the state treasury.

So, and your point is? lol Mr Plaintiff, can you not see that WE ARE TAXPAYERS and that's where we WANT our money to go? Producing better kids in the long run because we cared enough to fight for what's important and let the dead schools die a natural death or take a lesson from success. This is America after all.

Yes!! Us, taxpayers, want our children to go to religious schools. We believe in God. We want our children to grow up with the love of God in their hearts. We have a choice now, and I thank God everyday for the opportunity to place my kids in a school where life matters, where they pray to God every morning, where they share with compassion, kindness, and love. Julia.

amen Julia you said it so well!! Praise the Lord!!!

I completely agree. They want our kids to go to public schools bit yet they want to take anything that has to do with God out of school. I read an article about a kid who told another child whom was not a believer "God bless" and he got in trouble for it. If our kids can make a difference in society by going to a private school and learning about love, forgiveness and about our savior than that's where they will be.

Amen to that !

Julia you couldn't have say it better. We need to raise our children with the love of God teach them the way of God so when they grow older, thy would know the way of God the most high.

Pin the Per Pupil money on the students shirt.... Your under-performing school gets fewer students, you get less money and don't need as many teachers... It's a step Forward in fixing the 50 year Failed Experiment of Unions Rules Running the Public Schools. Dump the deadwood teachers, keep the good ones regardless of " Seniority" and maybe parents might send their kids there...

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