Locals applaud Louisiana Supreme Court ruling on vouchers

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Local educators and community members were excited Tuesday to learn about the Louisiana Supreme Court’s that the funding mechanism for the Louisiana Scholarship Program is unconstitutional.

Local pastor and President of Interfaith Alliance Weldon Gaddy said he believes funding religious education is not the state’s choice.

The Louisiana Scholarship program uses public funds through the state’s minimum foundation program to pay tuition and fees for students from failing schools to attend nonpublic schools. The majority of the schools participating in the scholarship program are religious schools.

“Most, if not all private religious schools are governed by theology both in the general operations of the school and the development of course curricula,” Gaddy said. “Funding, participating in and sending our children to religious education programs is the right and responsibility of faith communities, clergy and parents as they see fit — not of our government.”

Gaddy believes every citizen also should have the right to choose not to fund religious education.

Local attorney and American Civil Liberties Union member Charles Kincade said he is thankful for the state’s ruling.

“Even though the court decided the case on other grounds, it is a good day in Louisiana for church and state separation,” he said. “No longer will millions of tax dollars be used to finance religious instruction.”

Local teachers organizations also celebrate the day’s ruling.

“I am happy to know our lawmakers want to uphold the constitution and to do the things that are right and good for the people,” Monroe Federation of Teachers president Sandie Lollie said. “When you take public money and dedicate it to private or religious schools, that violates the constitution.”

“We are very pleased that the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision about the ACT II vouchers,” Louisiana Association of Educators area representative Angela Miller said. “Justice for Louisiana’s public education system was served today.”

Gaddy believes Tuesday’s ruling is not the end of the Louisiana’s Scholarship Program.

“I have little doubt that our legislators and governor will attempt to circumvent this ruling and find new methods to keep the voucher program funded,” Gaddy said. “But, they should have little doubt that I —and other Louisianans who value religious liberty —will continue to fight these programs.”