Union Loses First Round Of Charter School Lawsuit

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A state judge refused to immediately shut down the flow of money to 33 charter schools authorized by Louisiana's education board.

Judge Wilson Fields said the Louisiana Association of Educators failed to show it would be irreparably harmed because money from the public school financing formula was going to the schools.

The union filed a lawsuit claiming it was unconstitutional to use $60 million from the formula to pay for charter schools operated outside of parish and city school systems.

The Advocate reports that without ruling on the merits, Fields denied a preliminary injunction request Friday. He set a Dec. 5 hearing on a permanent injunction request.

Supporters say charter schools offer more student opportunities. Public school leaders say they take needed money away from traditional schools.

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