Florida may deprive Islamic schools from vouchers

Florida may deprive Islamic schools from vouchers
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Muslim advocacy groups and free speech experts are raising concerns over a proposed Florida bill that could affect school voucher funding for Islamic private schools and potentially violate constitutional protections, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

The measure, House Bill 1471, would bar schools affiliated with designated foreign or domestic terrorist organizations from receiving school choice scholarship funds. While the bill does not name any religious group, Muslim advocates warn it could be applied in a discriminatory way.

CAIR Florida says Islamic schools fear being falsely linked to extremism or Sharia-based accusations, especially after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization and state officials criticized the use of vouchers at Islamic schools. Supporters of the bill argue it prevents taxpayer money from reaching extremist groups and say it is a matter of accountability, not censorship.

Legal experts caution that vouchers are constitutional only if applied neutrally. Excluding Muslim schools while allowing Christian or Jewish schools to participate could violate the First Amendment’s establishment clause. Organizations including the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State warn the bill could enable religious discrimination.

The debate unfolds amid broader scrutiny of Florida’s $4 billion voucher program, which critics say lacks sufficient oversight and diverts funds from public education.