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[POLITICS] · United States · 5 sources

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California families petition Supreme Court over religious education funding

religious education charter school funding First Amendment Supreme Court Woolard v. Thurmond

Three California families are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether parents have the right to use state education funds for religious-based curricula. The legal challenge, Woolard v. Thurmond, centers on policies from the California Department of Education that restrict the use of charter school program funds for materials from faith-based organizations, even when those materials meet state educational standards.

The families filed their lawsuit in October 2023, asserting that denying access to these state benefits based on religious viewpoint violates the First Amendment. Representing the families, the Liberty Justice Center filed an amicus brief arguing that a previous ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals conflicts with Supreme Court precedent regarding religious discrimination in government benefit programs.

Counsel for the Liberty Justice Center’s PARENTS Initiative, Katie Cosgrove, stated that the current restrictions disproportionately impact low-income families who may lack the personal funds to purchase religious homeschooling materials outside of the state-funded charter program.

Entities

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · California · California Department of Education · Liberty Justice Center · Supreme Court of the United States

Claims

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Sources

Parents urge Supreme Court to protect religious education [www.griffonnews.com]
California parents ask SCOTUS to strike down state ban on religious curriculum funding [heartlandernews.com]
Parents urge Supreme Court to protect religious education [www.keysnews.com]
Parents urge Supreme Court to protect religious education [sjvsun.com]
Religious Education Fight Reaches Supreme Court as Senators Challenge California Homeschool Rules [tdpelmedia.com]