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PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court won't overturn lower court rulings finding a state voucher program providing grants to parents of students with disabilities is constitutional.
The justices without comment Friday declined to review an October Court of Appeals decision upholding a judge's 2012 ruling.
The rulings rejected opponents' arguments that the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program violates state constitutional prohibitions on using public money to support religious or private schools. The courts say it is constitutional because parents decide how to spend the money.
School district boards, teachers and school officials challenged the program. The state and advocacy groups were in support.
The Legislature expanded the program last year to include any child enrolled in a D or F grade school, and other expansions are being considered this year.
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