Denver Archdiocese to unveil privatized school voucher program

Denver, Colo., Jun 7, 2006 / 22:00 pm

The Archdiocese of Denver announced that it will hold a press conference today to announce a new educational initiative for students of low-income families to attend Catholic schools.  

The initiative comes after inaction on the part of State and Federal legislatures to act on a school voucher program. 

In June of 2004 the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that a school voucher law, which the state legislature had passed, was in violation of the state constitution.   

Now, with no apparent action on the part of the Democratic-controlled Colorado legislature, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput is beginning a privately funded voucher program for students who are not currently in Catholic schools.

According to the Denver Post, the Archdiocese’s plan will supply 250 children each from families who demonstrate an “economic need” with $3,000 vouchers. The families will then be able to shop and pick one of the 30-plus Denver-area Catholic schools, the article said.  The voucher is good for one year, but is renewable for up to four years.

Richard Thompson, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Denver, told the Denver Post that, there already has been significant interest in the program.

"The interest we're receiving is far greater than we expected," Thompson said. "I've already reviewed 100 applications, and the program hasn't even been officially announced yet."