School Vouchers Ruled Unconstitutional

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4 to 3 that the state’s school voucher program is unconstitutional because it strips local school boards of control over education.

Colorado’s voucher law -- the first in the nation since the U.S. Supreme Court said in 2002 that voucher programs were acceptable -- was never put into effect because of legal challenges.

The law would have offered vouchers of $4,500 a year to public school students to help cover their tuition at private or parochial schools. The program was supposed to start next fall.

Teachers, education groups and religious organizations challenged the voucher law.