|
|
|
| 1992 |
|
Commission
on Educational Choice begins its work. |
| 1992 |
|
Governor Voinovich supports legislation to
institute a pilot scholarship program in Cleveland. |
| 1992 |
|
The 1992 School Choice bill dies with no
hearing and no votes in the Ohio Legislature. |
| 1994 |
|
The School Choice bill receives hearings in
both chambers of the Ohio Legislature. |
| June
28,
1995 |
|
The
Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program is enacted through the Ohio Legislature. |
| August,
1995 |
|
The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program
Office opened in Cleveland. |
| January,
1996 |
|
Lottery
drawing was held for 1,500 scholarships to be awarded.
School Fair and informational session held for scholarship recipients. |
| January,
1996 |
|
American
Federation of Teachers filed a law suit challenging the constitutionality of the Cleveland
School Choice plan and asked for an injunction. |
| July,
1996 |
|
Franklin
County Common Please Judge Lisa Sadler ruled that the legislatively approved Cleveland
Plan did not violate the Ohio or United States Constitution. Opponents appealed. |
| August,
1996 |
|
1,994
students enter the school of their choice using scholarships for the ‘96/’97
academic year. |
| May 27,
1997 |
|
The 10th Ohio District Court of
Appeals ruled on the appeal saying that including religious schools in the voucher program
violated both the state and federal constitutions. Voucher
proponents appealed. The program was allowed
to continue while the case was pending before the Ohio Supreme Court. |
| August,
1997 |
|
2,938
students enter the school of their choice using scholarships for the ‘97/’98
academic year. |
| August,
1998 |
|
3,774 students enter the school of their choice
using scholarships for the ‘98/’99 academic year. |
| May,
1999 |
|
Ohio
Supreme Court rules The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program was unconstitutional
due to a procedural flaw in how the program was enacted.
The Court states that the Program did NOT
violate federal precedent regarding the separation of church and state. |
| June 29,
1999 |
|
The
Ohio General Assembly reenacted the Program with recommendations of the Attorney General
to ensure it met all state constitutional requirements. |
| July 20,
1999 |
|
The
ACLU, PAW, and Teacher Unions file suit against The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring
Program alleging that the Program violates the separation of church and state. |
| August
24,
1999 |
|
Federal
Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. grants a temporary injunction, shutting down the program pending
full hearing. Defendants appeal decision. |
| August
27, 1999 |
|
Judge
Solomon Oliver Jr. amends his decision to allow only previously
enrolled scholarship students to return to school. This decision
leaves 817 students who received their scholarship in March of 1999
for the first time shut out of the program. Defendants appeal
decision in US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. |
| October
19, 1999 |
|
With
no response from the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit,
Defendants appeal to the United States Supreme Court. |
| November
5, 1999 |
|
The
US Supreme Court overruled Judge Oliver's injunction and restores
scholarship funding to 817 children. |
| December
20, 1999 |
|
Judge
Oliver rules the Program unconstitutional, stays his Decision,
children remain in school and Defendants appeal to the US Court of
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. |
