By Michelle Martin
Staff writer

Catholic education leaders in Chicago hailed the U.S Supreme Court’s June 27 ruling that a school voucher program in Cleveland passes constitutional muster.

Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent of Catholic schools in the archdiocese, called the decision a “victory for children” that “signals a new era for all private schools.”

“We’re pleased with the court’s ruling, for it confirms that when public funds are made available equally to all that faith-based schools are treated equitably,” Wolsonovich said. “This will empower parents and will strengthen both government and non-government schools.

Cardinal George applauded the Supreme Court’s ruling as “an important step toward helping those parents who choose to send their children to non-government schools and who often struggle to pay tuition that is sometimes 10 percent of their income.”

In his statement, the cardinal said he supports initiatives that give parents options for school choice, because parents are the primary educators of their children.

School vouchers in Cleveland may meet the U.S. Supreme Court’s constitutional test, but Illinois Catholic school advocates don’t expect low income children here to benefit in the near future.

But the ruling could restart the conversation, said Zachary Wichmann, the associate director for education at the Catholic Conference of Illinois.

“A lot of the legislators who oppose vouchers have always said they’re unconstitutional,” Wichmann said. “They no longer have that argument.”

Vouchers will likely be an election issue this year. In general, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rod Blagojevich opposes school vouchers maintaining they would take money away from public schools, a campaign staffer said. A staffer for Republican candidate Jim Ryan did not return phone calls, but media reports said Ryan is “not inclined” to support vouchers.

State Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst), chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said the environment has changed since his bill for a pilot voucher program made it out of the Senate in 1995.

“Is there a pent-up demand for them? I don’t see it,” he said, noting the passage of tuition tax credits and charter school legislation since then.

Still, Cronin said, the ruling puts the issue back on the table. “I would expect that we will be debating the issue, and I welcome the debate. Vouchers may have an appropriate place in our educational options for children and families.”