PHOENIX – An opinion issued today by the Arizona Supreme Court unanimously ruling unconstitutional taxpayer funded vouchers for private schools is a victory for the more than 1.1 million children who attend public schools in Arizona, according to the Arizona School Boards Association. ASBA led legal efforts on behalf of a coalition of parent, education and civic organizations to oppose the 2006 legislation at issue in the Cain v. Horne case.

"This ruling will enable Arizona to put the focus on and the full funding for education in our state back where it should be, our public schools," said Panfilo H. Contreras, ASBA's executive director. "It was clear from the start that the purpose of these limited voucher programs was to test the legal waters in order to have a more expansive voucher program that would siphon state funds from our public schools to support private, often religious education. That test has failed."

Contreras added that he believes any future public test of taxpayer funded vouchers would fail as well. "The only place left to take this issue in Arizona is to the ballot box, and Arizona voters, like all those who have faced the question in other states, will not support having their tax dollars taken from public schools to support private education. Voters have not supported those measures in good economic times, and they certainly will not support them in these very difficult economic times. The passionate commitment to protect public education that has been demonstrated by so many ordinary Arizonans over the past few months is proof."

Contreras acknowledged that students who will transition back from private schools to public schools as a result of the decision are likely to face some adjustments. However, he noted that they will have more rights, protections and services without vouchers. "Under federal law, public schools give special needs students, and their parents, certain rights -- including a parent's right to have a say in their child's education and a student's right to receive appropriate services. Private schools don't have to provide these important safeguards."

In addition to ASBA, coalition partners are the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Arizona Education Association, Arizona Federation of Teachers, Arizona Parent-Teacher Association, Arizona Rural Schools Association and Arizona School Administrators.

The Arizona School Boards Association promotes community volunteer governance of public education and continuous improvement of student success by providing leadership and assistance to school governing boards. More than 240 school boards and charter schools from across Arizona, representing 1,200-plus school board members and over 1.12 million children, belong to ASBA.

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