A Florida appeals court has agreed to reconsider its own recent decision declaring Florida’s Opportunity Scholarships school voucher program unconstitutional.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal, in Tallahassee, ruled 2-1 on Aug. 16 that the 1999 law establishing the program was unconstitutional because it sent state money directly to religious schools.
The court announced Sept. 15 it would grant a motion by state officials to re-examine that ruling before the full 15-member court.
“It’s a very encouraging sign and an unusual step for a court to take,” said Clint Bolick, the president of the Alliance for School Choice, a national advocacy group based in Phoenix that supports Florida’s voucher programs.
Any decision likely would be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.