The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that a Maine school tuition program discriminates against children at faith-based schools as well as “penalizes the free exercise” of religion.
The case, Carson v. Makin, was a challenge to the constitutionality of a program that pays for students to attend private schools in cases when they would have to commute long distances to reach the nearest public school. Maine agreed to pay for those students to select any private school they wanted, as long as it wasn’t a religious school.
The nonprofit religious freedom law firms Institute for Justice and First Liberty Institute filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of three families.
“We are thrilled that the Court affirmed once again that religious discrimination will not be tolerated in this country,” First Liberty President, CEO, and Chief Counsel Kelly Shackelford said in response to the ruling.
“Parents in Maine, and all over the country, can now choose the best education for their kids without fearing retribution from the government. This is a great day for religious liberty in America,” he added.
Amy Carson, one of the plaintiffs in the case shared, “Maine families deserve the right to choose the education they believe will be best for their children, whether or not the school teaches religious values.”
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver applauded the High Court ruling, calling it a “great victory for religious freedom and school choice.”
“For 40 years, Maine’s law has unconstitutionally discriminated against parents regarding private schools based on religion,” Staver continued. “That discrimination ends today. Faith-based schools make an important contribution to their communities and are part of the foundation of America. Parents need more educational choices for their children.”