News Release

June 27, 2002

Court Ruling Empowers Parents and Children, Scholars Say

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Supreme Court today announced that the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutorial Program does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. David Salisbury, director of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, had the following comments:

"The Supreme Court decision represents a major step forward for America's school children and their parents. The decision, which upholds the constitutionality of private school scholarships for low-income families, begins to break down the barriers that exist between children and access to high quality schools.

"The ruling is a clear victory for parents and children, particularly poor and minority children who are caught in the worst schools. State legislatures can now move forward to create programs that allow parents to choose the best schools for their children."

Robert Levy, senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute, had the following comments:

"Since parents and students--not the state--choose their own schools, that severs the connection between government decision-making and any benefits that flow to religious institutions. Without that connection, the Establishment Clause just doesn't apply.

"Schools in Cleveland, like elsewhere, exist to serve the students, not vice versa. It’s time for opponents of school choice to set aside the notion that the survival of a public education monopoly is paramount, despite its wretched performance."