A settlement was reached earlier this month in
Florida Christian College v. Shanahan, a federal court challenge to Florida Christian College's exclusion from the Florida Resident Access Grant program. (See
prior posting.) The state had contended that the school did not meet the "secular purpose" requirement for participation that is imposed by Florida law. The
Lakeland, Florida Ledger reported Friday that the settlement:
will allow four students who were named plaintiffs in the case to receive so-called FRAG grants during the spring semester of this academic year — and will admit the college into the program for the 2013-14 academic year.
Also, the settlement indicates the state Department of Education will revise the way it determines whether religious colleges qualify for the program, including getting rid of what was dubbed a "secularity checklist.
Alliance Defending Freedom issued a Nov. 15
press release reporting on the settlement, and also made available the
full text of the Mediation Settlement Agreement.
