________________________________________  SUPREME COURT VICTORY FOR SCHOOL CHOICE!! VBE Statement, June 27, 2002 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯  STATEMENT BY LIBBY STERNBERG, Executive Director, Vermonters for Better Education, June 27, 2002 "We share the joy of Cleveland parents affected by this ruling, which is a significant step toward guaranteeing equal access to quality education for children everywhere.  "Through this ruling, the Supreme Court Justices have now opened the door to choice for many parents, not just the wealthy who can already afford to choose. "While our happiness for Cleveland's children is boundless, it is tempered by the fact that Vermonters will not be able to access vouchers to religious schools because of our state Supreme Court's extremely narrow - and we believe faulty - interpretation of the "compelled support" clause of the Vermont Constitution (in the 1999 Chittenden ruling). However, we are hopeful that even that obstacle will eventually be removed and Vermont parents will be able to enjoy the full parental educational freedoms the U.S. Supreme Court justices now have opened up for others." Some Facts about the Case: § Vermonters for Better Education filed an amicus curiae brief in the Cleveland case. It is posted on our web site at www.schoolreport.com § The Cleveland voucher program was part of a comprehensive effort by the Ohio legislature to aid one of the most troubled districts in the country. § Currently, more than 4,000 children participate in the program § Vouchers (or scholarships) in the program have a value of up to $2,250 (up to 90 percent of tuition costs) for children to attend the school of their parents' choice - regardless whether it is religious § Public schools were included in the program but declined to participate § Other reforms in Cleveland included charter schools and magnet schools § Opponents claimed the voucher program violated the First Amendment's proscription against establishment of religion (the "Establishment Clause.") § Opponents included the teachers unions, the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and others. § Supporters of the voucher program included various parent groups and school choice organizations, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the Institute for Justice, and others. § Legal briefs can be found at the Institute for Justice's home page - www.ij.org § Court heard arguments on February 20, 2002 LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: The U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Cleveland's Voucher Program -- on the web at: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/01pdf/00-1751.pdf Institute for Justice, "Victory for School Choice," June 27, 2002  http://www.ij.org/cases/school/ The next step & legal analysis (July 01 issue of the Vermont Education Report): http://www.SchoolReport.com/vbe/nlet/07_01_02.htm U.S. Department of Education resources related to the Supreme Court Decision On School Choice, June 27, 2002 http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/06-2002/06272002d.html Washington Post, "Supreme Court Upholds School Voucher Program," June 27, 2002 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54620-2002Jun27.html National Review, "Good News for Education," June 27, 2002 http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-walker062702.asp Reason Magazine, "Free to Choose: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision is a victory for children." June 27, 2002 http://reason.com/ml/ml062702a.shtml “Letting Parents Decide,” The Washington Post, June 28, 2002, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58706-2002Jun27.html *    *    * The VERMONT EDUCATION REPORT is published by Vermonters for Better Education 170 Church Street, Rutland, VT 05701, 802.773.5240 Contact VTBetterEd@aol.com for more information.

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