A federal appeals court has ordered that Vermont students who attend private religious schools must be reimbursed under a state voucher plan.

Vermont’s voucher program is limited to students attending secular schools in rural areas not served by public schools. Some parents sought reimbursement for religious schools as well.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals cited a 2020 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that stated that if states choose to establish a voucher program, they must include religious schools.

A lower court had ruled that while religious schools could take part in the program, state officials should determine how best to proceed. The appeals court ruling requires that religious schools be included with no delays.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


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