Justice Department Supports Challenge To Vermont's Exclusion of Parochial Schools From College Program

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest (full text) in in A.M. v. French, (D VT, filed 5/9/2019). DOJ's filing supports the position of plaintiffs who are challenging the exclusion of religious private school students from Vermont's Dual Enrollment Program.  Under the program, high school students may take up to two courses at public or private colleges at state expense. However while public and other private schools and home schooled students are eligible, private religious school students are not. DOJ argues that this discriminates against students' religious expression. DOJ also issued a press release explaining its action.