A Cole County judge has dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Missouri unlawfully funded its private school voucher program with taxpayer dollars. The lawsuit, filed by members of the Missouri National Education Association, claimed that the General Assembly unconstitutionally allocated $51 million to the program. However, the judge ruled that the allocations did not directly contradict the statutes governing the program, making them constitutional. The plaintiffs’ request for an injunction was denied, and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway hailed the decision as a victory for parents and students in the state.