As schools opened this fall, issues related to moral values and to church and state emerged in several states.
•
The first statewide voucher program began Aug. 16 in Florida at four
Roman Catholic and one nonreligious private school. Students in schools
deemed to be "failing" are eligible for vouchers of up to $3,389
annually. The program was criticized as a separation of church and
state violation by the NAACP, Americans United for Separation of Church
and State, and others.
• Nearly 4,000 students began attending
56 (mostly religious) elementary schools in Cleveland's 4-year-old
voucher program, which a federal judge suspended, then partially
reinstated, in August. Earlier the state supreme court ruled the
program unconstitutional because it was created as an amendment to the
state budget rather than as a separate bill.
"We don't have a
position on vouchers," said John Scibilia, ELCA director for schools.
"We encourage congregations to discuss this issue with respect to a
quality education for every child. Education is a responsibility of
individual states and every voucher program is different. If a voucher
or other choice program comes out that totally meets the needs of those
in greatest economic need, we'd need to look seriously at the program
on its own merits."
The rest of this article is only available to subscribers.
© 2013 Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
