Green Country Schools Sue Parents Over Special Needs Voucher Law

Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Two Green Country school districts are taking their fight over school vouchers to court.

Union and Jenks School districts are suing five sets of parents over a law to give scholarships to special needs students.

Union's superintendent told News On 6 that suing parents wasn't her choice. She says it was the only way to get this issue in front of a judge.

Several superintendents announced their opposition to House Bill 3393, back in January. They say the law is unconstitutional because it uses public money to pay for private school tuition.

Supporters say these kinds of scholarships are necessary to give special education students the best shot at education. Some educators say it's just a voucher program that drains resources from public schools.

A group of parents had filed a lawsuit against Union and Jenks for defying the law. While that lawsuit is now on hold, those parents are now the ones being sued.

5/2/2011 Related Story: Parents Of Special Needs Students File Lawsuit Against Four Tulsa-Area School Districts

Two other superintendents stood with Union and Jenks back in January. Liberty couldn't join the lawsuit, because no one filed for a scholarship in their district. Broken Arrow is not participating.

10/6/2010 Related Story: Lawmakers Say Two Tulsa County Schools Not Complying With State Law