NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee’s much-debated school voucher program is facing a second legal challenge from opponents echoing previous concerns that the program illegally diverts public tax dollars to private schools.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed the complaint Monday on the behalf of several eligible parents who live in school districts where the voucher program would apply.
The 38-page lawsuit alleges the voucher law is illegal under the Tennessee Constitution’s “home rule” because Republican lawmakers did not receive local consent when drawing legislation affecting local communities. The argument is similar to the complaint filed nearly a month ago by the state’s largest communities – Nashville and Memphis – who are seeking to block the new program from going into effect later this year.
However, along with raising funding concerns, the ACLU is also alleging the voucher law must be spiked because tax dollars will be spent on private schools that could discriminate against certain students.
“Diverting limited public education funding to private schools that do not provide students the same standards of education and civil rights protections as public schools violates Tennessee’s Constitution and state law,” the complaint states.