Opponents argue that vouchers violate state and federal constitutional prohibitions against using public funds to support religion. But school-choice partisans successfully have argued that public funds for Florida's opportunity scholarships are not spent on schools. The money is given to parents, and schools are only an indirect beneficiary of the public funds. Programs similar to Florida's already have been deemed constitutional in cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and by state supreme courts in Ohio and Wisconsin. Despite the courts' decisions, however, teachers unions and other voucher opponents still are fighting to bar school-choice programs, arguing that parents are not entitled to spend their education taxes at private schools.
Businesses are more comfortable with the idea of using competition to lift quality and lower costs.
Let the families choose the school. That's going to be the wisest use of your money. Since then, the program has grown from 3,700 students from 2,000. The vouchers may be used towards tuition at secular or religious private schools. But the court invalidated the program because of a legislative error.