CER Special Alert

The U.S. Supreme Court's Proceedings in the Cleveland School Choice Case
Q & A

(Washington, DC 2/20/02) 

• At least 25 questions were asked by at least 6 different Justices about the factual context of the case, ranging from education options to the quality of available schools. 
• Justice Scalia often questioned the parties on the role of finances - another of the issues mentioned in The Center for Education Reform's (CER) amicus brief. As the Justice noted, a number of secular schools that had previously accepted voucher students converted to charter status because they received greater funding. That option was not available to religious schools, thus the percentage of students in religious schools increased because of the conversions. 
• Chief Justice Rehnquist asked who had the burden of proving that the program was a violation of the Establishment Clause. As noted in our brief (and only in our brief, to the best of our knowledge) the burden is on the opponents to prove, not merely insinuate, that the program is unconstitutional.

For more information, link to CER's full coverage of the Ohio School Choice Program.

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For more information on this issue, contact Melanie Looney, Director of Research at melanie@edreform.com or call (202) 822-9000. 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.  

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