Groups Suing Over School Voucher System

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) — A coalition of teachers groups and individuals have filed a suit to have the state de facto school-vouchers program that serves tens of thousands of children declared unconstitutional.

The Florida Education Association scheduled a news conference Thursday to discuss a new lawsuit challenging the "Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program." A copy of the lawsuit was posted earlier on the website of a law firm that represents the union.

The program offers tax credits to companies that contribute money that ultimately is used to pay for children to attend private schools. The lawsuit contends the program violates part of the Florida Constitution that says it is a "paramount duty of the state" to make adequate provision for a "uniform, efficient, safe, secure and high quality system of free public schools."

Also, the lawsuit takes issue with the program sending money to religious schools.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

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