Editor’s Note: ACLU goes after school choice

Apparently, giving parents more school options is an unsettling prospect for the American Civil Liberties Union.

Just this year, Nevada passed the most sweeping school choice program in the country; it goes into effect in January.

The universal education savings account option would give families access to the dollars that previously had only gone to public schools. Now that money could be used for private school tuition, tutoring, a public school — or some mix of these choices. Several states have more limited savings account programs, but since Michigan has one of the most restrictive constitutional amendments blocking vouchers and tax credits, it’s not even a possibility here.

Close to 3,000 applications have already been submitted by Nevada families, according to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

Despite the clear demand, Nevada’s ACLU has filed a lawsuit to stop the choice program. The suit claims the savings accounts are in violation of the state constitution, since they could be used for a “sectarian purpose.” But similar voucher programs have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and state Supreme Courts.

The suit also claims the program throws a wrench in the “uniformity” of education in Nevada.

But that’s the whole point. Too many public schools have failed to do an adequate job preparing students. Parents should have more access — not less — to schools that are doing it right.