Vermont family files lawsuit over religious school tuition aid restrictions

A Vermont family has filed a lawsuit against state education officials, challenging a law that restricts public tuition assistance for students attending religious schools. The plaintiffs, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, argue that the state’s Town Tuition Program and Dual Enrollment Program discriminate against families who choose faith-based education. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, seeks injunctive and declaratory relief to allow the family's child to access these benefits during her final year of high school.

The complaint names Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Zoie Saunders, State Board of Education Chair Tammy Kolbe, and the Barstow Unified Union School District as defendants. The family contends that the state's policy violates the First Amendment by denying equal access to public programs based on the religious nature of the chosen school. Legal counsel for the family stated that parents should have the freedom to select schools that best fit their children without facing government-imposed religious discrimination. This legal action follows previous litigation in the state regarding the eligibility of faith-based institutions for public funding.