Appellate court to hear school voucher case

The Colorado Court of Appeals will hear arguments in the Douglas County School District’s voucher program.

The Denver Post reports (http://bit.ly/Q2XpTd ) the case involving the district’s challenge of a judge barring the program will be heard Monday afternoon.

Taxpayers for Public Education and others challenged the program that would have offered up to 500 students $4,575 in state funding to cover tuition at pricey, mostly religious, private schools.

Denver District Judge Michael Martinez blocked the voucher program in August, saying it’s a disservice to the public interest for taxpayers to pay tuition for religious schools. Martinez ruled the program violated the state’s constitution and school-financing act.

The school district argues that the Colorado Supreme Court has previously upheld programs that use state money for education and private institutions.