SCHOOL CHOICE OHIO Group to mark anniversary of ruling on vouchers

Staff report

columbus

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that affirmed the constitutionality of school vouchers, and School Choice Ohio, the state’s leading advocate for school vouchers, plans a gala in Cleveland to celebrate the ruling.

On June 27, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the ruling, affirming the constitutionality of the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program. The ruling opened the door for thousands of students in Ohio and across the nation to apply for state-funded scholarships to attend the private schools of their choice.

School Choice Ohio is hosting a celebration gala June 11 in Cleveland in honor of this anniversary.

Judge Ken Starr, president of Baylor University, will headline the event and former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery and former Ohio Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson are confirmed to participate in the celebration.

While Ohio Attorney General, Montgomery designated Judith French, a well-respected assistant attorney general in the office, to argue the landmark case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, she also hired Ken Starr, a well-known and highly regarded voucher advocate, to advise the office regarding the briefing before the Supreme Court as well as to gather amicus support from around the country.

Davidson was Speaker of the House and helped draft and was instrumental in guiding the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program into law.

“The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program was the first voucher program in the state of Ohio and the second in the nation,” said School Choice Executive Director Matt Cox. “This program, and the U.S. Supreme Court decision supporting it, paved the way for the thousands of parents and children across Ohio who have experienced the life changing opportunity to attend a school that best meets their learning needs.

For information about School Choice Ohio, visit www.scohio.org.