Text of the proposed

SCHOOL VOUCHER AMENDMENT

ARTICLE 28 (or alternate number to be assigned by Congress)

Section 1.  It is the right of every citizen to train up their children according to their conscience, faith and capabilities without interference from the State. The rights of parents and legal guardians to choose how their children will be educated are foundational to a free people.  

Section 2.  School Vouchers consist of mandatory payments by the treasuries of Local, State and Federal authorities for student costs at private schools.  Mandatory payments for student costs include tuition and related educational expenses.

Section 3.  Private Schools can be pre-elementary, elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions. 

Section 4.  Private Schools that receive Local, State or Federal monies to pay for their students tuition and expenses are required to teach their students appropriate grade level academic subjects, good morals, good values, respect for the rights of others and respect for America’s unique Christian heritage and Constitutional history.  Private Schools are also required to teach their students civic responsibilities in Local, State and National communities, except at the pre-elementary level. 

Section 5.  Private Schools have the authority to discipline students which includes reasonable corporal punishment in elementary schools for the purpose of correcting wrong behavior.

Section 6.  School Vouchers are initiated at the election of parents or legal guardians on behalf of their dependent children.  For the purposes of this Article, dependent children are children up to the age of 21 and still dependent on their parents or legal guardians while attending school.  School Vouchers can be used to fund a student’s private education at an elementary, secondary or higher education school when government funding is already authorized for the same or comparable education at a public or government school.

Section 7.  School Vouchers must be paid to private schools in an amount equal to the sum of the amounts Local, State and/or Federal authorities are authorized to pay for the education of the same or similar student at a public or government school. 

Section 8.  Local, State and Federal authorities are prohibited from imposing on any private school certification requirements that exceed the academic requirements for public or government schools.   Local, State and Federal authorities are prohibited from imposing laws, regulations or rules on private schools that are designed to inhibit the freedom of choice parents and legal guardians have when deciding to send their children to private schools.  Local, State and Federal authorities are also prohibited from interfering in the academic instruction, moral and religious teaching, discipline and curriculum of private schools. 

Section 9.  This Article does not prevent Local, State and Federal authorities from enforcing reasonable laws that are for the protection and welfare of the American people. 

Section 10.  To secure the rights of parents, legal guardians and their dependent children, it is hereby prohibited to deny a student, who is a citizen of the United States the right to a private school education or deprive said student the appropriate funding for such education when the same or comparable funding is available at a public or government school.  The provisions of this Article are enforceable within the United States which shall include the Several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the territories and possessions of the United States. 

Section 11. Congress shall have the power to enforce by appropriate legislation, the provisions of the Article. 

Revised: 05/26/10.