Voucher program OKed: tax credit scholarships.

• Author: Koteskey, Tyler
• Position: Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program - Citings - Brief article

On August 16, Florida's First District Court of Appeal upheld a ruling that had dismissed a lawsuit against the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The plaintiffs, including the 140,000-strong Florida Education Association, argued that the privately funded program violates the Florida Constitution by diverting funds from the state's public schools. But the appeals court held that the plaintiffs had no standing to bring the suit.

Private individuals and corporations fund the scholarship program in exchange for tax credits. The program then provides private school tuition vouchers for students in foster care and from lower-income families. Since no tax dollars go to private schools, the appeals court found that the plaintiffs could not demonstrate that...