A coalition of groups led by the Colorado PTA filed a lawsuit Tuesday, arguing a new school voucher program violates the state Constitution.

The suit filed in Denver District Court against Gov. Bill Owens targets a new law that established the first state school voucher program since the U.S. Supreme Court declared such programs constitutional last year.

It alleges the program will illegally remove local control from school boards and compel taxpayers to support religious schools.

It also argues that the program will harm public schools by siphoning money from them and will undermine a constitutional requirement that the state provide a free and uniform public school system.

When he signed the bill in April, Owens said the program will provide opportunities to thousands of children whose parents cannot afford to remove them from failing public schools.

Beginning next year, the law will apply to children in kindergarten through 12th grade who are eligible for free or reduced-cost school lunches. It also will allow a school district to provide vouchers to qualifying children if at lest eight of its schools receive low or unsatisfactory academic performance ratings.