Nebraska families sue over school funding and parental rights

Two families in Lincoln, Nebraska, have filed a lawsuit against state and local officials, alleging that the state’s K-12 education funding system violates parental rights and the First Amendment.

The plaintiffs, Justin Jacobsen and Timothy and Joanna Menter, argue that the current system creates a “viewpoint monopoly” by only providing free education to those who enroll children in public schools. They contend that families seeking alternatives to public school curricula—specifically citing opposition to LGBTQ+ ideologies and transgender-related policies in classrooms—are forced to bear the full financial burden of private education or homeschooling.

Represented by the New Civil Liberties Alliance, the families claim the state penalizes parents for exercising their right to provide education aligned with their values. The lawsuit alleges that Lincoln Public Schools promoted “alternative sexuality and transgendered ideologies” through classroom materials and stickers. The legal action seeks to prevent officials from conditioning public benefits on public school enrollment, though it does not specify a particular remedy.