http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=1222464The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this morning in a case regarding an Arizona school choice program. (See earlier story)
Arizona's scholarship tax credit program allows residents to claim a tax credit for donations to private organizations that provide scholarships to private schools. The American Civil Liberties Union says it is unconstitutional because some of the money goes to religious schools. But Andrew Coulson, director of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, argues there is no problem with a religious individual giving to a religious scholarship fund and taking a tax deduction.
Andrew Coulson (Cato Institute)"Governments are not allowed to favor religion or to make choices that encourage religion, but individuals are certainly allowed to do so," he points out.
So at stake is the continuation and growth of education tax credit programs around the country that provide parents easier access to private schools.
"There's tremendous evidence showing that education systems work best when parents have choice...when schools are competing and when schools are lightly regulated," Coulson notes. "And it is precisely this kind of education tax credit program operating in Arizona that provides the characteristics that we really need for excellent education systems to arise."
He decides this is one of the most important education cases in a generation.
Topic: High court begins AZ school choice case (Read 1181 times)