Defense fund created to protect private schools accepting vouchers

A defense fund is in place to protect Louisiana schools that accept voucher students. The Alliance for School Choice and the Institute for Justice announced Tuesday the creation of the Louisiana Defense Fund in response to a letter last week from the Louisiana Association of Educators that threatened legal action against private schools that participate in the state’s education reform. The Alliance is a leading national organization promoting and implementing school choice programs nationwide. The Institute for Justice, the nation’s leading legal advocate for school choice, joined the Alliance in the defense fund. The Alliance for School Choice says LAE would rather threaten private schools that accept voucher students with lawsuits than work to improve failing and underperforming schools across the state. LAE on July 25 sent letters to private schools across the state stating that it would “take whatever means necessary” to prevent the private schools from accepting students using scholarship funds, or 5,637 vouchers that are basically checks backed by taxpayer dollars, the Alliance says. “We’re not only standing with the schools of Louisiana,” says Kevin P. Chavous, a senior adviser to the Alliance, “but most importantly, we’re standing with the thousands of parents all across the state who deserve the opportunity to choose the best educational environment for their children.” The trial to determine the constitutionality of the program is set to begin on Oct. 15 in Baton Rouge, the Alliance says.