Judge: Voucher law, Tangi deseg order conflict

Published On: Nov 26 2012 08:25:49 PM CST
Louisiana Department of Education LEAP & GEE Reports
BATON ROUGE, La. -

 A New Orleans-based federal judge has halted Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program in Tangipahoa Parish, saying it conflicts with a decades-old desegregation case.

U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle ruled Monday that a series of sweeping education changes pushed by Jindal clash with court orders in the 47-year-old desegregation case.

The voucher program pays private school tuition for some students from low-performing schools. School system attorneys argue it diverts state money from local schools and from efforts to comply with orders in the 1965 desegregation case seeking equal treatment and funding for all students.

Superintendent of Education John White said the ruling will be appealed.

The ruling could have implications beyond Tangipahoa Parish. More than 30 school districts are under federal desegregation orders, according to the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.

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