WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for School
Choice tonight strongly condemned today's decision by an Arizona appellate
court to overturn Arizona's school choice programs for foster children and
students with special needs. Unless the programs are upheld on appeal,
hundreds of children will be physically removed from their schools.
Alliance President Charles Hokanson tonight announced the
organization's full support for an appeal of the decision to the Arizona
Supreme Court, which will be handled by the national Institute for Justice
(IJ), the legal arm of the school choice movement.
The decision -- based on a lawsuit brought about by the Arizona
Education Association (AEA) union, the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU), and the People for the American Way (PFAW) -- was poorly
formulated, according to a release by IJ, which plans to fight to keep the
programs operational until a state-level appeal is heard.
The lawsuits targeted Arizona's Scholarship for Pupils with
Disabilities, which provides vouchers for 158 students to attend 52 schools
this year, with an average scholarship amount of $9,478. The suit also
targeted the Displaced Pupils Choice Grant Program, which benefits 148
children attending 39 schools, with an average scholarship amount of
$4,251.
"These programs absolutely must continue operating during the appeals
process," Hokanson said. "It is unfair, unjust, and unconscionable to pull
hundreds of disadvantaged children out of the high-quality schools they
love."
"Tonight marks a new low for the AEA, PFAW, and the ACLU," Hokanson
added. "If they're at all celebrating this decision tonight, then they
should be truly ashamed. Politics should never be played when it comes to
the education and well-being of children -- let alone children with special
needs and students in foster homes."
Parents: Call to Express Your Disappointment
The Alliance is strongly encouraging parents from throughout the
country to call and e-mail the AEA, PFAW, and the ACLU and politely ask
that they stop using disadvantaged children for political purposes:
-- The direct line for the Arizona Education Association is: 800-352-5411
-- The direct line for the People for the American Way is: 202-467-4999
-- The direct line for the ACLU-Arizona is: 602-650-1854
SOURCE Alliance for School Choice
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Related links:
http://www.allianceforschoolchoice.org
CONTACT:
Andrew Campanella of Alliance for School
Choice, +1-202-280-1985, acampanella@allianceforschoolchoice.org
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