Opponents have threatened to sue, claiming it will destroy public education and violate the constitutional separation of church and state. Scores in only four of Florida's 3,000 public schools are now so bad they would qualify. But with tougher standards approved last year, the number of flunking schools could climb to 170. Milwaukee and Cleveland have started voucher programs in recent years. Vermont has allowed tax dollars to be spent for private school tuition in rural areas for more than a century.
Maine has a program similar to Vermont's.
Florida's Constitution specifically prohibits using taxpayer dollars to aid religion, said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington. The Washington-based Institute for Justice, which has intervened in courts on behalf of school choice programs elsewhere, has promised to defend Florida's program. Other opponents include the Florida PTA, the state's two teacher unions and the American Civil Liberties Union. All rights reserved.