For More information:
NEA Communications 202-822-7200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 1998

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Education Association (NEA) today took the lead in filing a multi-count lawsuit on behalf of parents and taxpayers against the local school board in Southeast Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The suit challenges the constitutionality of the Southeast Delco School Board's recent decision to give taxpayer-funded vouchers to parents who send their children to private and religious schools.

"The Southeast Delco School Board's shortsighted decision will give children the short shrift," said NEA President Bob Chase. "Taxpayer-funded vouchers are not the answer to improving education, and they funnel much-needed resources away from the majority of students. All children should have access to modern schools, small classes, and quality teachers, and voucher schemes for private school students only divert attention and efforts away from this goal."

The price tag on the voucher program for Delaware County children currently enrolled in private school for the coming year alone is estimated at more than $1 million. More than 90 percent of those children attend sectarian schools.

"Taxpayer money would be better spent invested in quality education for all Delco students, rather than handed over to parents who choose to send their children to private or religious schools," said the NEA president.

The lawsuit was filed today in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, on behalf of eight area parents and taxpayers. It asks the court to "declare that the use of public school funds...to pay tuition for private schools is illegal," and to "order the defendant Board Members to repay to the School District any and all illegal expenditures made pursuant to the voucher plan."

"We are confident that the court will find that the Delco School Board's action is unconstitutional and violates state law," concluded Chase.

The lawsuit is supported by a broad coalition, including the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, Education Law Center, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, Pennsylvania State Education Association, and Pennsylvania Congress of Parents and Teachers.

The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.