TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida judge is upholding two of the state's main private school voucher programs.
Circuit Judge George Reynolds on Monday ruled against a request by parents and education advocacy groups to shut down state-created programs that pay to send children to private schools.
One of the programs provides private school tuition to children with disabilities while the other helps children from low-income families.
The ruling is a prelude to a much larger trial over Florida's entire education system scheduled for March.
The main lawsuit from Citizens for Strong Schools and Fund Education Now contends the Legislature and state officials have shortchanged the state's schools. The lawsuit cites the academic performance of minorities as proof that the state is failing its children.
The lawsuit was filed six years ago but state officials tried to block it from going forward.
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12/7/2015 4:53:46 PM (GMT -5:00)
