Originally published in The Advocate, May 18, 2013

Regarding the ruling last week by the Louisiana Supreme Court about Gov. Bobby Jindal’s school voucher program, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest umbrella Orthodox Jewish organization, is disappointed by the court’s finding the program to violate the state’s constitution.

While the state Supreme Court rejected the voucher program’s funding mechanism, this should be viewed as a technicality. We are disappointed that this ruling may be presented as a victory for opponents of educational opportunity and parental educational choice.

Still, we remain committed to working with Gov. Jindal to afford education opportunity to all of Louisiana’s children, and we will work with him to restructure the program to conform to the court ruling.

Maury Litwack

Director of State Political Affairs

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

Washington, D.C.