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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2002

News Release

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Voucher Argument

NEA Calls on Parents To Speak Out for Public Education

Washington, D.C.- The United States Supreme Court today heard oral argument on the Cleveland private school tuition plan. The Court will review the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit's decision that the plan is unconstitutional. Its ruling is expected to reshape the terms of the debate and the character of voucher proposals for years to come.

"American teachers, parents, and others in the community will be looking closely at this debate," said Bob Chase, president of the 2.6 million-member National Education Association (NEA). "Will we, as a society, choose to enhance the quality of public schools - or will we choose to divert resources to a few private school students?

"However the Court rules, we do not anticipate an expansion of voucher plans, given strong public opposition," Chase said.

Bob Chanin, general counsel of the NEA, is the lead attorney for the respondents in the case, Doris Simmons-Harris, et al.

In their brief before the Court, Simmons-Harris and other parents argue that "voucher programs are not a solution to the problems of urban education, but rather an impediment to the development and the funding of effective solutions to those problems."

Lost in the debate over vouchers is the fact that roughly 90 percent of American students are enrolled in public schools, NEA President Chase said, and the nation should focus on direct efforts to improve public schools. "Parents and educators would rather work together to reduce class size, enhance teacher quality, and ensure all children are held to high standards than continue this highly divisive and counterproductive effort to move a few students from one school to another."

Chase pointed out that vouchers have very little support among the general public. Since 1972, vouchers have been soundly defeated every time they have come before the voters, and over the past decade, legislatures in 37 states have rejected vouchers.

Chase said that NEA will continue its efforts to improve public schools, and he called on parents and others to join in building support for high standards for students, teachers, and schools, as well as the resources to help students be successful.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.