Article author:
Associated Press
Charleston, West Virginia (AP) — A judge in the West Virginia state capital withdrew a bill on Wednesday to pour state funds into a program that encourages families to pull their children from kindergarten to high school. school.
Immediately after the judgment, the state attorney general said his office would appeal.
Judge Joanna Tabbit of the Kanawa County Circuit said that one of the country's most extensive school selection programs, the Hope Scholarship Voucher Program, is "a thorough and efficient system of free schools."
Last year, a law signed by Republican Governor Jim Justice, who passed the GOP-controlled state council, allows families to pay for private school tuition, home scholarship, and more. cost.
Scheduled to take effect during the 2022-23 semester, more than 3,000 students have been approved to receive approximately $ 4,300 each in the first cycle of the program.
If the child was already homeschooled or attended a private school, the family could not receive the money. To qualify, students had to be enrolled in a public school in West Virginia last year or plan to start kindergarten next year.
In January, three parents filed a lawsuit, stating that the program would encourage students to drop out of public school and drain funds from the public education system. The proceedings were upheld by the West Virginia Board of Education and the school principal.
Democratic State Senator Richard Lindsay, who represents the Charleston Metro Area, said he agreed to the ruling on Wednesday, but was given a voucher and is now "constitutionally suspicious from the beginning, or It's out of control because of weakened legislation. "
" HOPE vouchers remain unchecked and unregulated, are extremely unconstitutional, and are ultimately public in West Virginia. It will lead to the integration or closure of the school, "he said.
West Virginia Prosecutor General Patrick Morrisey said his office would do everything possible to overturn Judge Tabbit's decision.
"This is an important law that provides greater freedom for parents to choose how to educate their children," Morrisey said in a statement. "Our children deserve the best educational option. We will fight for the children and the hard-working families of the state, keep this law and keep constitutionality."
