Parents Fight to Defend Utah Scholarship Program in Court
In a bold move to defend the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, two parents have stepped up to join the legal battle against a lawsuit filed by the state’s largest teacher union. Maria Ruiz and Tiffany Brown, both parents of children attending private schools, filed a motion to be included in the litigation process to support the scholarship program.
The program, which offers up to $8,000 to eligible K-12 students for education expenses such as private school tuition, homeschooling, tutoring services, and testing fees, has been hailed as a potential life-changing opportunity for thousands of Utah children. Ruiz and Brown argue that stopping the program would deprive their children, along with approximately 10,000 others, of the educational opportunities that the Legislature intended to provide.
Despite facing opposition from the Utah Education Association (UEA), which argues that the program diverts funds from public schools and violates the state constitution, Ruiz and Brown are determined to demonstrate the program’s constitutionality and its benefits for families with diverse educational needs.
Represented by the Partnership for Educational Choice, a project of the Institute for Justice and EdChoice, Ruiz and Brown are prepared to fight for their children’s right to access quality education that meets their unique needs. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the future of education in Utah and the rights of parents to choose the best educational options for their children.