Children First: CEO Kansas
Joins the Center for Education Reform
in Filing Amicus Brief in
Cleveland Supreme Court Voucher Case

Source: http://www.edreform.com

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mary Kayne Heinze
(202) 822-9000

CER FILES AMICUS BRIEF URGING SUPREME COURT TO UPHOLD SCHOOL CHOICE

Diverse Group Joins in Supporting School Choice

(Washington, DC 11/9/01) Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform (CER) today announced the Center has filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of children enrolled in the Cleveland School Choice Program. This marks the 5th time CER has sponsored an amicus curiae brief supporting the Cleveland program - and the second to the Court.

In the brief, CER asks the Court to reverse the lower court decision on the basis that, as Justice O'Connor has stated in another case, context is important in reviewing state action. The context offered to the Court is 25 years of failed efforts to improve Cleveland's schools, including a large number of alternative public school options.

Joining CER in submitting this brief are 27 individuals, associations and public policy organizations representing diverse memberships and concerns who support the options given to children and parents and the need to review the whole picture in regard to the Scholarship Program. "Those joining us in this effort understand that all means of reform, including these scholarships, are needed to reach what is now more than ever the imperative of providing a quality education for all children," said CER president Jeanne Allen.

The program, which began in 1996, provides up to $2,500 scholarships to more than 3,800 low-income families allowing them alternatives to Cleveland's chronically failing schools.

"The Cleveland Scholarship program was developed as only one part of a larger plan to improve Cleveland education and has played an important part of the larger effort of the reforms of Cleveland public schools," noted Allen.

Others joining CER in the amicus are:

1. The American Legislative Council
2. The Arizona School Choice Trust
3. California Parents for Educational Choice
4. The Coalition for Parental Choice in Education (Massachusetts)
5. The Education Excellence Coalition (Washington)
6. Floridians for School Choice
7. The Illinois Coalition for Parental Choice
8. The Maine School Choice Coalition
9. United New Yorkers for Choice in Education
10. The Center for Equal Opportunity
11. The Center for Public Justice
12. Children First: CEO Kansas
13. Citizens for Educational Freedom
14. Educational Freedom Foundation
15. The Commonwealth Foundation of Pennsylvania
16. Excellent Education for Everyone
17. "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Washington, DC
18. Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options
19. Minnesota Business Partnership
20. The Nevada Manufacturers Association
21. The Pennsylvania Manufactures Association
22. The Associated Industries of Vermont
23. The Texas Justice Foundation
24. The Toussaint Institute
25. Urban League of Miami
26. Beatrice D. Fowler of the Brevard County School Board (FL)
27. Kyle Persinger of the Marion School Board (IN)

To view a copy of the amicus, go to: http://www.edreform.com or call the Center at (800) 521-2118.

To receive contact information on reaching the above signatories, call the Center.

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The Center for Education Reform is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For further information, please call (202) 822-9000 or visit our website at http://edreform.com.