http://www.msnbc.com/local/KSNW/M199007.asp?0ct=-302&cp1=1

Decision made on school vouchers

June 27, 2002
KSNW-TV News

WICHITA, Kansas, June 27 - Thursday morning, the United States Supreme Court handed down a decision that could effect where your kids go to school.

THE COURT SAYS SCHOOL VOUCHERS ARE constitutional. The decision allows public money to be used to pay for religious schools. The 5 to 4 ruling says school vouchers are OK as long as parents are given a choice among various religious and secular schools.

Thursday's case is based on a pilot program in Cleveland.

The majority of the court did not see vouchers as a violation of church and state, even though 95 percent of the vouchers were used to subsidize religious schools.

The president and many political conservatives have long supported school vouchers, while proponents of public education have viewed them as an attack on public schools.

In Wichita, advocates on both sides of the issue were quick to react.

Barbara Fuller, President of the United Teachers of Wichita, said, "It diverts funds away from public education, there is only so much money legislatures can put into public education."

Cindy Duckett of Children First added, "I am thrilled. This is a huge victory for children, for families, all across the county. I am surprised, it's a profound change, it is the biggest decision for education since Brown v. Board of Education."

The majority of the court says the Cleveland program provides true private choice, while the dissenters say that with most of the money going to religious schools, there is no genuine choice.

Another ruling the Supreme Court made that affects schools was to uphold random student drug testing. The court says anti-drug concerns outweigh an individual's right to privacy.

The ruling applies to students who take part in any after-school activities, until now the random tests had only been used on student athletes.