TALLAHASSEE, FL – The lawsuit challenging the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program was dismissed yesterday when the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. The court’s 4-1 decision leaves in place an August ruling by the First District Court of Appeal, which found the statewide teachers’ union and other groups behind McCall v. Scott did not have standing for the case. 

Trial and appellate courts both dismissed the tax credit scholarship case after concluding that the Florida Education Association, Florida School Boards Association, Florida Congress of Parents and Teachers, League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida State Conference of Branches of NAACP and Americans United for Separation of Church and State could not provide evidence that the program harms public schools. The Florida Legislature created the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program in 2001, and the law provides for state tax credits for contributions to nonprofit scholarship funding organizations. The program currently awards scholarships to nearly 98,000 eligible children of low-income families in more than 1,600 private schools.

Education secretary nominee Betsy DeVos voiced strong support for public school alternatives at her confirmation hearing Tuesday. DeVos said “parents no longer believe that a one-size-fits-all model of learning fits the needs of every child.” She stated she would be “a strong advocate for great public schools” but she also supports parents’ rights to enroll their children in a high-quality alternative “if a school is troubled, or unsafe, or not a good fit for a child.”

“Parents and students should have a choice to select the best education available that meets their needs,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “The public school monopoly hurts educations. Competition is good for educations. No one should have to throw away their future because they are forced to stay in a failing school. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program ensures that all children, including those who desire a Christian education, have that opportunity,” said Staver.

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