Pioneer Alert: Supreme Court Will Rule on Highly Significant School Choice Case

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) announced that it would hear Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, a case that reveals the harm a state Blaine, or anti-aid, constitutional amendment marked by religious bias does to families by depriving them of educational options. This case has particular relevance to Massachusetts, which is one of the nearly 40 states with anti-aid amendments that have roots in 19th-century anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant discrimination.    

Kendra Espinoza, a single mom from Montana, sought a better education for her daughters. In public school, one daughter was bullied and the other struggled academically. Both would later thrive in a parochial school. After the Montana Supreme Court struck down her state’s education tax credit program, Ms. Espinoza was denied access to the scholarships her children badly needed. She and two other Montana moms facing similar plights have asked the nation’s highest court to weigh in, and it has now agreed to do so. For well over a decade Pioneer Institute has highlighted this important legal and educational topic through research, events, op-eds, and a short film.

Nationally, over 250,000 largely poor and minority students benefit from private-school choice through education tax credits. The basis for the Montana court’s decision was the state’s 130-year-old anti-aid amendment. The constitutional provisions in Montana, along with other states, represent distinct but formidable legacies of a dark, bigoted chapter of history that still limits educational opportunities for students and families who need them most.

In April, Pioneer submitted an amicus curiae brief urging SCOTUS to hear Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue and will again file an amicus brief in support of Kendra Espinoza now that the Court has agreed to hear the case. This case has the potential to overturn a century and a half of state constitutional discrimination against religious families and their quest for educational options for their children.

Recent research:

Massachusetts Gubernatorial Candidates on K-12 Education Policy

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October 20, 2014

K-12 education policy too often is the province of powerful special…

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District and Charter Early Childhood Education Lessons from D.C.: Roundtable Discussion

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August 11, 2014

This event, held on July 31, 2014 in Boston, featured a panel…

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“District and Charter Early Childhood Ed: Lessons from D.C.”: Keynote by Abigail Smith, Washington, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education

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August 11, 2014

Washington, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education Abigail Smith…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Micaela Dawson https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Micaela Dawson2014-08-11 19:59:102021-11-23 10:43:47“District and Charter Early Childhood Ed: Lessons from D.C.”: Keynote by Abigail Smith, Washington, D.C. Deputy Mayor for Education

Study: States Should Replicate AppleTree Institute’s High-Quality Charter Early Ed Program

July 31, 2014

Report to be discussed in forum on district and charter early…

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State Scholarship Tax Credit Program Would Help Low-Income Students

July 24, 2014

Study Finds State Scholarship Tax Credit Program Would Provide…

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Study: 5% Increase in Spending Could End Urban Charter School Waitlists in Failing Districts

July 10, 2014

Study: Urban Charter School Waitlists Could Be Nearly Eliminated…

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Massachusetts Charter Schools: “A Fire You Can’t Put Out”

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June 30, 2014

This past week, at the urging of state K-12 education commissioner…

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Public Statement on MA BESE Vote Limiting Charter School Enrollment

June 24, 2014

Today, at the recommendation of Commissioner Mitchell Chester,…

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Massachusetts Deserves Better Education Leadership

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March 19, 2014

Massachusetts Deserves Better Education Leadership Education…

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Matching Students to Excellent Tutors

February 11, 2014

Research Finds Match Charter-Like Tutoring Programs Should Be…

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Free Movie Screening (Jan. 23): “The Ticket: The Many Faces of School Choice”

January 14, 2014

To celebrate National School Choice Week, please join Pioneer Institute for a special screening of the groundbreaking film “The Ticket: The Many Faces of School Choice.”

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Going Beyond in Lawrence, Mass.

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November 18, 2013

Pioneer Institute believes that all kids deserve access to a…

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Urban School Reform: Event Recap

October 22, 2013

On October 14, 2013, Pioneer hosted a forum, "Urban School Models:…

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Urban School Models Forum to Feature Pulitzer Prize Winner, Fmr DC Mayor

October 11, 2013

Pulitzer Prize Winner, Former D.C. Mayor, Two Former State Education…

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Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “Lift Cap on Urban Charters”

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April 25, 2013

By Nina Rees and Gerard Robinson As former federal and state…

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Wall Street Journal: New Front in Charter Schools

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March 10, 2013

New Front in Charter Schools In Massachusetts, a Pair of Democrats…

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MetroWest Daily News: Chieppo and Gass: More charter schools to close the education gap

February 11, 2013

Chieppo and Gass: More charter schools to close the education…

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Boston Herald: Give proven providers a fair shot

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October 16, 2012

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education should put politics aside and support a new SABIS-run Brockton charter school.

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2012-10-16 20:29:552023-06-15 16:40:50Boston Herald: Give proven providers a fair shot