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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge is ordering a stop to the use of taxpayer money to pay for tuition at private or religious schools.
Wake County Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ruled Thursday that the program is unconstitutional on several levels. Voucher advocates say they will appeal the decision.
Hobgood says the program pays for students to attend schools that are not obliged to meet state curriculum requirements, violating the state constitution's guarantee for students to have an opportunity to a sound basic education.
Hobgood said it's also unconstitutional for public funds to go to privately run and managed schools.
The judge said money cannot go to private schools. The state agency managing the funds says money that was planned for distribution earlier this week was stopped.
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