Appearing at the Federal Courthouse today, leaders of the school choice movement challenged the ACLU's legal complaint against the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program and called for immediate dismissal of the suit by a Federal Judge.

David Zanotti, Chairman of The School Choice Committee and President of the Ohio Roundtable accused the ACLU of purposefully distorting the US Constitution in attacking the Cleveland school choice program.  "This lawsuit is not about the separation of church and state, it is about keeping urban families from having equal opportunities to educate their children", Zanotti stated.  "Critics are hiding behind a narrow and extreme interpretation of the First Amendment in their attempts to shut this program down."

Mrs. Bert Holt, career educator and co-chair of The School Choice Committee joined Zanotti.  Together they provided data showing the cost of the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program to be only three dollars per Ohio adult over the next two years.  "That three dollars per adult Ohioan is going to provide wonderful academic opportunities for over 4,000 children in Cleveland, Mrs. Holt stated.  "These scholarships represent freedom to these families, freedom to ensure hope for their children's future."

The School Choice Committee is proposing an immediate settlement to the suit now before Federal Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr.  The plaintiffs are objecting to their tax dollars potentially being spent on religious schools.  Rather than argue the validity of that point, The School Choice Committee is offering to fully refund the per capita costs of the program to each plaintiff.  Committee Chairman, David Zanotti explained the settlement in this fashion:

"The plaintiffs surely have the right to conscience in this country.  They feel the first amendment is being violated.   We strongly disagree, but remain convinced that their claims are worthy of careful consideration.  It is vitally important that the claims of the plaintiffs be balanced against the needs of the children and families in this pilot program.  Therefore, The School Choice Committee is willing to refund every plaintiff the full dollar amount they might be spending in tax dollars should this program proceed.  Over the next two years the total costs of the program per adult Ohioan will be three dollars.  We will gladly refund that three dollars to every plaintiff represented here today.  In this way the program can go forward without the plaintiffs fearing their limited tax investment has been improperly used.  Their conscience can be clear on this matter of the First Amendment.

This settlement would also save the taxpayers of Ohio thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars in unnecessary court costs defending the school choice pilot program.  In the interim the program could continue as the people of Ohio, the General Assembly , the past Governor and the current Governor all desire" Zanotti concluded.

The School Choice Committee is an active coalition dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for all Ohio children through parental choice.