Jewish groups push US Supreme Court to include religious schools in state aid programs

The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments in a challenge from parents in Maine who want to use a state tuition program to send their children to religious schools.

The parents argue that their exclusion from the state program violates their religious rights under the Constitution. Teacher unions and school boards say a ruling for the parents would be a blow to public education.

Prior to the case being heard, several Jewish groups — such as the Orthodox Union, National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs, and the Jewish Coalition of Religious Liberty — submitted amicus briefs to the Supreme Court arguing for the lower court ruling, which rejected the parents’ challenge, to be overturned.

“By participating in this case, the Orthodox Union hopes to protect all families against institutional, anti-faith discrimination,” Orthodox Union President Mark Bane says in a statement.