By MELINDA DESLATTE
Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge judge says he expects to rule this week on a lawsuit seeking to shut down Gov. Bobby Jindal's statewide voucher program.
Judge Tim Kelley heard arguments Wednesday and is scheduled to continue the trial Thursday.
Two statewide teacher unions and 43 school boards say the voucher program that uses tax dollars to send children to private schools - and other education funding plans - are unconstitutional.
They say paying for the programs through the public school funding formula violates the state constitution. And they claim lawmakers didn't follow the proper process for passing laws.
Jindal and Education Superintendent John White say the programs were funded and created in line with the constitution and state law.
More than 4,900 students are enrolled in 117 private schools with vouchers.
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