NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee won’t be able to implement a contentious school voucher program while the state continues to fight back constitutional challenges over the law that would allow parents to use public tax dollars on private school tuition, according to a ruling issued Tuesday.
The latest decision from the Tennessee Court of Appeals comes nearly two weeks after a lower court deemed the program unconstitutional and unenforceable.
Instead, the appeals court scheduled oral arguments for the case to be held Aug. 5.
“As evidenced by the request for appellate review we intend to continue litigating this matter,” said Samantha Fischer, spokeswoman for Tennessee attorney general’s office, in an email.
The late summer hearing date deals another blow to the state’s hope to proceed with the voucher program for the 2020-21 school year. Voucher supporters had pushed for the appeals court’s permission to allow the state to continue implementing the program while the case proceeded. An appeal to the state Supreme Court remains an option to try to get the program back in motion while the court case continues.