Public school advocates have sued North Carolina in a bid to block a new law that would let taxpayer money be used by low-income students wishing to attend private or religious schools.
Lawyers for the North Carolina Association of Educators and the North Carolina Justice Center filed the lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court last month on behalf of some two dozen parents, teachers, and others. They contend the law violates a section of the state constitution that creates a school fund and requires that the money be “used exclusively for establishing and maintaining a uniform system of free public schools.”
The law taking effect for the next academic year, would give annual grants of $4,200 each. Students are eligible if they qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program, were assigned to a public school during the 2014 spring semester, and want to attend a private or religious school.
