Florida Supreme Court dismisses frivolous lawsuit against nation’s largest school choice program

More than 98,000 children from low-income and working-class families continue to have choice in education
Today the American Federation for Children applauds the Florida Supreme Court for its decision this morning to decline to hear an appeal of a lawsuit that sought to end the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, the largest private school choice program in America. Filed in 2014 by the Florida teachers union and other plaintiffs, the suit, if successful, would have evicted more than 98,000 low-income and working-class children from the private schools their parents chose for them.
“Low-income parents and children in Florida have a great deal to celebrate today knowing that their access to school choice and a quality school will no longer be threatened,” said John Kirtley, Vice Chairman of the American Federation for Children. “We would like to thank our coalition partners and allies in Florida who have worked tirelessly to defend the program and the children who rely on these life-changing scholarships. There should be no barrier preventing a child from reaching their full potential or receiving a world-class education, and we are thankful this meritless lawsuit has been resolved.”
At every turn, courts in Florida dismissed this case and sided with a parents’ right to choose a quality education that best meets their child’s individual needs.
The court’s decision comes one year and a day after Martin Luther King III led a massive march and rally in the Florida capital with 10,000 people, urging the union to drop the suit. At the onset of this court case, the Save Our Scholarships Coalition brought together a diverse group of parents, faith leaders and other parental choice supporters who galvanized around one message: Put the needs of our students first.
AFC is proud the coalition accomplished its goal and Florida students will still be able to attend the quality school of their parents’ choice.