A state judge rejected a bid to revive Colorado's public school voucher program Tuesday, limiting the ability of school districts to sign up students while the case is appealed.

The state had asked Denver District Judge Joseph Meyer to allow it to continue taking voucher applications while it challenges his Dec. 3 decision that declared the program unconstitutional.

Meyer said the program unfairly stripped local school boards of their authority. The state Supreme Court has agreed to decide the issue.

The pilot program for low-income children was approved last year by lawmakers. It required 11 districts to participate, and some 125,000 students were eligible.

Colorado Education Association President Ron Brady said the teachers' union was pleased with the decision to keep the injunction in place.

"This is an untested, experimental program which violates the Colorado Constitution," he said. "Encouraging parents to sign up for a voucher program that the judge found to be unconstitutional creates false expectations."

Senate Majority Leader Norma Anderson, R-Littleton, said the ruling will hurt school districts if the judge's decision is overturned.

"They couldn't start the program until September, but they could get ready for it," she said.