School choice Archives - Liberty Justice Center

Mother’s lawsuit forces South Carolina school district to open in-person learning to all students

To schedule an interview, contact Kristen Williamson at media@libertyjusticecenter.org or 773-809-4403. CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 25, 2021) — All students in Berkeley County, South Carolina public schools now have access to in-person learning after a mother’s lawsuit forced the school district to comply with state law. Brigette Herbst...

Burying the bigotry of South Carolina’s Blaine amendment – The Hill

A recently filed lawsuit could make South Carolina the second state in the nation to be forced to stop using vestiges of 19th century bigotry, in the form of the Blaine Amendments, to block 21st century education reform.

South Carolina school district sued for denying in-person education required by state law

In Herbst v. Berkeley County School District, the Liberty Justice Center is seeking to ensure all students have equal access to in-person education in accordance with South Carolina state law.

SC private schools urge judge to help move state from ‘mistakes of its past’ – The Post and Courier

Private schools suing the state for access to millions of dollars in public funds urged a federal judge to help South Carolina move beyond the “mistakes of its past” by forcing the distribution of the money to dozens of independent schools.

Judge Asked to Toss South Carolina Private School Money Ban – US News & World Report

Private schools and colleges asked a federal judge Monday to strike down the provision in South Carolina's constitution that bars public money for private and religious schools, saying the 1895 measure is discriminatory.

Attorneys request injunction on some CARES Act funds as private schools lawsuit continues – Greenville News

Attorneys representing two private schools groups have asked a federal judge to temporarily prevent South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster from spending his discretionary coronavirus aid money while a lawsuit attempts to repeal a section of the state's Constitution.

Law with racist, bigoted past used to block funds earmarked for independent and historically Black schools – LJC Blog

Lawsuit fighting SC ban on private school funding supported by Christian schools group – The Post and Courier

A group of Christian schools in South Carolina submitted a friend of the court brief in support of a recent federal lawsuit that calls for a revision of the state’s constitutional ban on public funds for private schools.

SACS files amicus brief in support of lawsuit to strike discriminatory language – ABC4 News

On Monday, the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in Bishop of Charleston v. Adams.

SC school group files in support of lawsuit to strike discriminatory language from state constitution

GREENVILLE, S.C. (April 27, 2021) — On Monday, the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools (SCACS) filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in Bishop of Charleston v. Adams. SCACS represents 69 member schools which together serve over 9,000 students across South Carolina....

A Public Funding Ban for Private Colleges ‘Born in Bigotry’? – Inside Higher Ed

South Carolina private colleges are challenging a state constitutional amendment prohibiting public funding for religious or other private educational institutions.

Catholic Church Sues SC to End Rule Blocking Public Funds for Religious Schools – Fox 24 Charleston

FOX 24 News covers the federal lawsuit filed by religious schools and independent colleges in South Carolina who want to strike the Blaine Amendment from the state’s constitution.

South Carolina Religious Schools File Lawsuit – WBTW News13

WBTW News13 covers Bishop of Charleston v. Adams, the federal lawsuit Liberty Justice Center filed on behalf of a group of religious schools and independent colleges in South Carolina who are suing to have the state's racist Blaine Amendment prohibiting spending public money on religious...

South Carolina Sued by Private Schools Who Want Public Money – Associated Press

A group of private schools is suing South Carolina, saying the racist past of a state constitutional amendment prohibiting spending public money on religious or private schools means it should be overturned.

Catholic Diocese of Charleston files lawsuit against the state – Live 5 News WCSC Charleston

Live 5 Charleston reports on the federal lawsuit, Bishop of Charleston v. Adams, filed on behalf of the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston along with 20 independent colleges and universities in South Carolina

Lawsuit filed to strike amendment ‘born in bigotry and prejudice’ from constitution – FOX Carolina

FOX Carolina reports on Bishop of Charleston v. Adams, a federal lawsuit calling for the courts to strike the Blaine Amendment from South Carolina’s state constitution.

Federal lawsuit seeks to remove Blaine Amendment from South Carolina Constitution – The Center Square

The lawsuit argues the amendment discriminates against Black residents and Catholics by withholding education funding from nonpublic schools in South Carolina.

Lawsuit filed to remove post-Civil War amendment from SC’s constitution – NBC 2 Charleston

A federal lawsuit has been filed to remove what religious schools and independent colleges say is a racist and bigoted amendment from the state’s constitution.

Groups file federal lawsuit asking that amendment ‘born in bigotry and prejudice’ be stricken from SC constitution – FOX Carolina

The lawsuit claims the amendment discriminates against African Americans and religious groups by "unfairly withholding education funding for independent schools in the state."

Catholic church, private schools sue to change SC Constitution over COVID relief funds – The State

Announced Wednesday, the federal civil rights lawsuit argues Article XI, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution should be removed because the law itself was “born of bigotry and prejudice, based on race and religion.”

Federal lawsuit challenges portion of SC Constitution that bars private schools from public money – Greenville News

A group of private school organizations are filing a federal lawsuit challenging a portion of South Carolina's state Constitution that says public funds cannot be used directly for private or religious entities.

Lawsuit calls on federal court to strike racist, bigoted amendment from South Carolina Constitution

Striking the Blaine Amendment would restore eligibility for federal COVID relief funds to private, independent and religious schools, including HBCUs

Teachers unions wield ‘gross imbalance of power’ in school reopening debate, say critics – Washington Examiner

President Joe Biden wants schools to reopen. So do parents, students, and thousands of teachers. So, what's the holdup? Powerful teachers unions, critics claim.

Three things every private school parent needs to know about the latest stimulus package

While the most recent federal COVID relief package, dubbed, the American Rescue Plan has been mired in controversy about whether the government should be adding to the federal deficit, it did provide a silver lining: support for thousands of private schools and the millions of...

Liberty Justice Center notifies state education leaders of intent to safeguard grants earmarked for non-public schools

LJC is intent on ensuring that billions of federal COVID-19 emergency assistance dollars earmarked for non-public schools actually wind up in the service of those schools and their students.

Madison teachers union faces lawsuit over planned illegal “sick out”

Attorneys at the Liberty Justice Center and Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) are warning Madison Teachers Inc. that they face legal repercussions if they move forward with an illegal sick out on Monday.

Parents shouldn’t have to do this – LJC Blog

It should never have come to this. Parents shouldn’t have to threaten to sue the teachers union at their school for holding their children’s education hostage.

Remote learning failed my third-grader miserably. I pulled her out of public school. – USA Today

Parents of students in Virginia’s largest school district are working to ensure that teachers union leaders do not repeat an illegal work stoppage that took place in late October.

Liberty Justice Center President Pat Hughes appears on Fox News to talk Chicago Public Schools

Liberty Justice Center is representing Chicago area parents as they navigate the battle for in-person education, while the Chicago Teachers Union continues to keep schools closed.

TN Supreme Court agrees to hear appeal of governor’s school voucher program – News4 Nashville

The Tennessee Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal on the constitutionality of Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Savings Account pilot program to provide low-income students in Nashville and Memphis with a $7,000 scholarship to attend the school of their choice.

Tennessee Supreme Court agrees to hear school voucher case – ABC 9

"The plaintiffs are trying to have their cake and eat it, too, because on one hand they argue about how the how the Home Rule amendment affects the counties, and then on the other hand the argument about how it affects the school districts," Kelsey said. "Respectfully,...

Tennessee Supreme Court to take up appeal of Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher program – Tennessean

Tennessee Supreme Court agrees to hear scholarship program case appeal

Today, the Tennessee Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from the Court of Appeals on the constitutionality of Governor Bill Lee's Education Savings Account pilot program to provide low-income students in Nashville and Memphis with a $7,000 scholarship to attend the school of their...

Chicago parents set to sue if teachers strike – Fox News

Liberty Justice Center is representing Chicago area parents as they navigate the battle for in-person education, while the Chicago Teachers Union continues to keep schools closed.

9 CPS families say they will sue Chicago Teachers Union if they strike – WBBM NewsRadio

The Liberty Justice Center said it will sue the Chicago Teachers Union on behalf of nine Chicago Public Schools families if members of the CTU go on strike.

Chicago teachers strike looms, parents may sue – Fox & Friends

LJC's Daniel Suhr appeared on Fox & Friends to discuss Chicago parents' battle for in-person education while the Chicago Teachers Union continues to keep schools closed.

Chicago parents promise to sue teacher’s union if members strike – Fox & Friends

Chicago parents upset over the impasse between school district officials and the teacher’s union said they are prepared to sue in order to force educators to return to their classrooms.

Chicago parents represented by Liberty Justice Center – Fox News

Liberty Justice Center is representing Chicago area parents as they navigate the battle for in-person education, while the Chicago Teachers Union continues to keep schools closed.

Teachers unions want schools closed. Parents need their power back. – Liberty Justice Center

Suing teachers unions is the only way to empower parents, protect kids.

A CTU strike would be wrong – and likely illegal – Chicago Tribune

Liberty Justice Center is representing Chicago area parents as they navigate the battle for in-person education, while the Chicago Teachers Union continues to keep schools closed.

School choice lawsuit surge pushes possible high court fight – ABC News / Associated Press

A group of Vermont parents are suing the state and local school districts over unequal access to education under the state’s 150-year-old Town Tuitioning system. The parents say the program violates the state constitution by allowing children residing in certain school districts to attend the...

Arizona parent confronts school district, union over illegal teacher “sick out” in Chandler

A parent of a student in one of Arizona’s largest school districts is placing teachers union and school leaders on notice if teachers repeat an illegal work stoppage that took place in December. As the Chandler Unified School District Board of Education meets again this...

Parents’ suit challenges Vt. school tuition system – Bennington Banner

Tuition lawsuit filed against BFUHS, WNESU and state – Brattleboro Reformer

Vermont parents sue state over unequal access to education

Virginia parents confront school district, union over illegal teacher “sick out” in Fairfax

Parents of students in Virginia’s largest school district are working to ensure that teachers union leaders do not repeat an illegal work stoppage that took place in late October.

‘Kids are not pawns’: Fairfax Co. parents angry about organized teacher mental health day – ABC7 WJLA

Parents of students in Virginia’s largest school district are working to ensure that teachers union leaders do not repeat an illegal work stoppage that took place in late October.

Parents push back against OEA – Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Several months ago, the Oklahoma State Board of Education rejected the Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) applications of two schools, Altus Christian Academy and Christian Heritage Academy, on the basis of their religious affiliation. Attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center immediately swung into action, working behind...

Attorney General: Oklahoma Department of Education acted illegally – Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Liberty Justice Center appeals ruling to block scholarship for low-income students to the Tennessee Supreme Court

Attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center are asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to overturn a decision to block a critical scholarship program for low-income students. Opponents of the Education Savings Account (ESA) Pilot Program have stalled its implementation and blocked scholarships for up to 5,000...

Idaho teachers union vows not to strike again in response to parents’ lawsuit filed after mass “sick out”

Idaho’s largest teachers union has vowed not to shut down schools again a month after waging an illegal strike that forced 40,000 kids to stay home unexpectedly. The union’s promise comes after a group of parents sued the teachers union for illegally shutting down schools...

Lawsuit claims West Ada teachers’ organized ‘sick-out’ was an illegal strike – KTVB

As the West Ada School District announced it would reopen on Wednesday, a group of parents filed a lawsuit arguing this week’s “sick out” was an illegal union strike, and that the teachers union cannot use the threat of another work stoppage to force the...

Liberty Justice Center represents North Carolina General Assembly in fight to protect scholarships for low-income students

Attorneys from the Liberty Justice Center are representing the North Carolina General Assembly in a legal fight to protect a scholarship program that provides educational opportunities for thousands of low-income students.

Idaho parents fight to ensure the teachers union won’t shut down schools again

Parents suing West Ada Education Association, claiming illegal strike – CBS2 Idaho News

Parents, school leaders fight to protect Opportunity Scholarship Program

A group of parents and two private schools in North Carolina are fighting to protect a critical scholarship program, the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which has opened the doors for thousands of low-income children in the state to attend private schools over the last five years.

South Carolina Supreme Court set to hear arguments on constitutionality of SAFE grants program – The Center Square

The battle over grants that would help pay for private school tuition across the state might be heading to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Fight Over Private School Grants Could Be Heading to the SC Supreme Court – WISTV

The battle over grants that would help pay for private school tuition across the state might be heading to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Nashville Attorney: ‘ESA Students Check Out, But They Never Leave’ – Daily Memphian

“The ESA program is urgently needed to help low-income Tennessee students escape failing schools and access better education opportunities. We are hopeful that the court will side with parents and school leaders..."

Familiar Arguments as Tennessee Judges Hear Appeal Over Block to Lee’s School Voucher Program in Ongoing Case – Tennessean

Fight over SAFE Grants heads to the South Carolina Supreme Court

Today’s action escalates the legal battle from the state trial court to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Palmetto Promise Institute and the Liberty Justice Center continue to fight to protect SAFE Grants and plan to consent to bringing the case before the High Court.

Hearing Held Regarding Funds Set to be Allocated From Emergency Fund for Private School Tuition – WISTV

On July 20, McMaster announced he would be using $32 million received in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds to provide one-time scholarships for students to attend private schools during the 2020-21 school year.

Palmetto Promise Institute fights to restore SAFE Grants for South Carolina students

Palmetto Promise Institute asked an Orangeburg, S.C. judge to allow the governor’s new Safe Access to Flexible Education (SAFE) Grants program to move forward. If the judge sides with Palmetto Promise, thousands of students from moderate and low-income families will have the opportunity to attend...

Big win for school choice in U.S. Supreme Court, assisted by Liberty Justice Center

As of last month, thirty-eight states had laws that stood in the way of families using publicly funded scholarship programs at religious schools. The same funding was approved for other private schools, so long as they had no religious affiliation.

Liberty Justice Center attorneys applaud U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to protect school choice

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an historic ruling in support of school choice and the First Amendment. In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the Court reversed the Montana Supreme Court’s decision and ruled that students should be allowed to use state-supported scholarships to...

Liberty Justice Center attorneys committed to defending scholarships for low-income students

“The ESA program is urgently needed to help low-income Tennessee students escape failing schools and access better education opportunities,” said Brian Kelsey, senior attorney at the Liberty Justice Center. “We plan on making this argument in the Court of Appeals on August 5, and we...

Tennessee Asks State Supreme Court to Take Over School Voucher Case in Race to Launch this Year – Chalkbeat

In Government of Nashville v. Tennessee Department of Education, the Liberty Justice Center represents the two school leaders and three families who would qualify to participate in the Education Savings Account (ESA) Pilot Program for the 2020-2021 school year. The ESA Pilot Program provides scholarships...

Tennessee Voucher Program Continues to be Blocked – Associated Press

In Reversal, Lee Says State No Longer Implementing Vouchers – WVLT

Defendants who have intervened in the lawsuits include voucher advocates, such as the Liberty Justice Center, the Institute for Justice and the Beacon Center of Tennessee – who also are representing parents in favor of the ESA program. All parties involved in the legal battle...

Liberty Justice Center attorneys plan to appeal ruling to block scholarships for low-income students

A group of parents and school leaders is fighting to protect the program so their children and students have the opportunity to escape poor-performing public schools.

Judge Strikes Down School Voucher Law, Declaring it Unconstitutional – WMC

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A judge delivered a major blow to Tennessee’s school voucher law, declaring it unconstitutional. Opponents of the law hailed the ruling as a major victory, while supporters vowed to continue fighting for it. The Education Savings Account Act (ESA), which was...

Judge Strikes Down School Voucher Law, Declaring It Unconstitutional – WMC

Nonprofit Appealing Judge’s Ruling that Tennessee’s Voucher Law is Unconstitutional – Fox

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A nonprofit is appealing a judges ruling that Tennessee’s school voucher law is unconstitutional. Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin struck down state’s private school voucher law, known as the Education Savings Account (ESA) Pilot Program, Monday night, citing it violates...

Nonprofit Appealing Judge’s Ruling that Tennessee’s Voucher Law is Unconstitutional – Fox

Tennessee Voucher Program Arguments Weighed by Judge – Antelope Valley Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge on Wednesday weighed a wide range of arguments surrounding the legal battle over the state’s much-debated school voucher program, noting that she plans on making a decision soon to ensure parents have enough time to plan ahead for the...

Cities, State Dig In Over Vouchers – Nashville Post

Shelby and Davidson counties’ effort to overturn Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account program continued Wednesday as a Nashville judge considered various requests to rule or dismiss the lawsuit. Under the law passed last year by the Republican-led House and Senate, qualifying students in Nashville...

Judge Pledges To Move Swiftly On TN Education Voucher Lawsuit – Patch

A Nashville judge promised Friday to move expeditiously in the widening court battle over Tennessee’s new education savings account law as the state works to launch the program for the upcoming school year. Chancellor Anne C. Martin also indicated that she likely will allow three...

Judge: School Choice Advocates Can Intervene in Voucher Case – WVLT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge on Friday agreed to allow school choice advocates to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the legality of the state’s school voucher program. That means the Liberty Justice Center, the Institute for Justice and the Beacon Center of Tennessee...

Parents, school leaders ask court to toss Nashville mayor’s lawsuit blocking scholarships for low-income students

(Feb. 26, 2020) A group of parents and school leaders are urging a state judge to toss Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s lawsuit against a new scholarship program for low-income families.

In response to Mayor Cooper’s attack on scholarships for underprivileged children, attorneys at the Liberty Justice Center ready to represent parents planning to use the program

(Feb. 6, 2020) Today Nashville Mayor John Cooper is expected to announce a lawsuit aimed at blocking a new program that provides scholarships to students from low-income families.

Supreme Court veterans urge court to defend First Amendment in Espinoza school choice case

(Jan. 22, 2020) The Liberty Justice Center supported the petitioners in the landmark school choice U.S. Supreme Court case being argued today, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue.

Family initiates legal action against Arizona Department of Education

(Nov. 14, 2019) An Arizona family has initiated legal action against the Arizona Department of Education for failing to follow state law regarding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA).

School choice an essential safeguard for religious minorities – Brief filed asserting First Amendment protection before U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 18, 2019) – Today the nationally recognized First Amendment lawyers at the Liberty Justice Center (LJC) partnered with the nation’s foremost advocacy organization for school choice — the American Federation for Children (AFC) — to file a joint amicus brief supporting three...

School choice

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