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At least 4 killed in Oklahoma tornado outbreak; 10 shot outside Florida bar; AZ receives millions of dollars for solar investments; Maine prepares young people for climate change-related jobs, activism; Feds: Grocery chain profits soared during and after a pandemic.

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Ukraine receives much-needed U.S. aid, though it's just getting started. Protesting college students are up in arms about pro-Israel stances. And, end-of-life care advocates stand up for minors' gender-affirming care in Montana.

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More rural working-age people are dying young compared to their urban counterparts, the internet was a lifesaver for rural students during the pandemic but the connection has been broken for many, and conservationists believe a new rule governing public lands will protect them for future generations.

TN Parents Sue State Over School Voucher Law

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Wednesday, March 11, 2020   

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A group of parents is suing the state over a school voucher law that would allow public school funds to be used to help Tennessee families send their kids to private schools.

Chris Wood, an attorney with the firm Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP who is representing the 11 plaintiffs in the case, said diverting millions of dollars intended for Memphis and Nashville public schools to private schools violates the rights of public-school students.

"Diverting money from the BEP (Basic Education Program), which are funds that were supposed to go to public schools, in order to pay for a separate system of private schools, we believe violates the education and the equal protection provisions of the Tennessee Constitution," he said.

The Tennessee Education Savings Account voucher program passed by a single vote last spring. The lawsuit asks that it be stopped before going into effect as early as this fall. The lawsuit also charges that the voucher law violates the Tennessee Constitution's Home Rule provision. Woods said "Home Rule" prohibits the state from passing laws that apply only to certain counties.

"The legislators in Nashville and Shelby County wanted nothing to do with this legislation, and the only people that voted for it only voted for it after they were guaranteed it wouldn't apply in their district," he said. "So we think that that's a clear violation of the Home Rule provision."

He said the voucher program would siphon off around $7,500 per student -- that's $375 million over five years -- from funds previously appropriated by the General Assembly to maintain and support public schools.

The lawsuit is online at aclu-tn.org.


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