Douglas County (CO) Voucher Program
The Douglas County School Board approved the pilot program in March 2011, which provides for up to 500 students in the amount of $4,575 for each student to attend a private school for the 2011-2012 school year. A lottery system will be used to determine who receives a voucher if more than 500 students apply.
Back in 2003 the state of Colorado approved a school voucher program, despite previous rejections of the idea by voters in state referenda. That program never began after state courts and the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that it violated the state constitution's local control clause. Lawmakers reconsidered the law during the 2004 legislative session but rejected attempts to rewrite it.
Additional Resources
Court overturns block of Colorado voucher program (The Associated Press, 2-28-2013)
Douglas district spends nearly $1 million in court fee to keep vouchers (The Denver Post, 12-01-2012)
Judge denies voucher stay by Douglas district, Denver Post (8-30-2011)
Judge Halts Douglas County school voucher program (Denver Post, 8-13-11)
Judge issues permanent injunction on Douglas County voucher program stating it violates state constitution.
Plaintiffs argue Douglas County’s voucher program drains funds from public schools (KMGH Denver, 8-2-2011)
Douglas County's voucher charter school gets final OK (Denver Post, 7-20-11)
The district approved a charter school to administer the new voucher program. The charter will distribute funding to the families in the voucher program.
ACLU sues over Douglas County school vouchers (Denver Post, 6-22-11)
The Colorado ACLU and two other civil liberties groups filed suit Tuesday challenging the Douglas County School District's voucher plan, which would allow students to attend private schools with public money.
Voucher school applications mostly religious schools (Denver Post, 4-20-11)
The voucher movement in Douglas County has drawn criticism from some who feel taxpayer money should not be used to pay for private or religious school tuition.
Douglas County approves voucher program (Denver Post, 3-16-11)
After months of study, roiling controversy and emotional debate, the Douglas County school board unanimously approved a groundbreaking plan to help pay tuition for hundreds of students to attend private schools.