Blaine Amendments, found in several states’ constitutions and borne out of anti-Catholic bigotry, prohibit the use of tax dollars by religious institutions. They have been the basis of many arguments against education choice programs. Our friends at the Show-Me Institute explain how Blaine Amendments could soon become things of the past:
The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Wednesday in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer. The case involves Trinity Lutheran’s application to a state (Missouri) program that reimburses organizations for the purchase of recycled tires that are used to resurface playgrounds like the one at Trinity Lutheran’s school. [T]he church’s application was rejected on the grounds that Missouri’s Blaine Amendment does not allow the state to provide support to religious institutions.
A Supreme Court ruling rejecting Missouri’s Blaine Amendment would be a huge win for school choice advocates, taking away one more weapon in the anti-parent-choice arsenal. Michael McShane provides more details here and a compelling video explanation here.
SOURCE: The Show-Me Institute
IN THIS ISSUE:
- PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania lawmakers are once again trying to reform the state’s 20-year-old charter school laws.
- CATHOLIC: Catholic schools nationwide hope school choice programs will boost their falling enrollment numbers.
- OHIO: Ohio could see school choice for nearly 75 percent of its students if a proposed bill becomes law.
- INDIANA: Indiana lawmakers propose imposing more mandates on schools receiving voucher money.
Common Core and Curriculum Watch
- SCIENCE: New research shows spending more time doing activities together as a family improves children’s science test scores.
- READING: The Iowa Senate approved cutting a state reading program for third graders from the state’s new budget.
- OPT-OUT: Parents in Florida are going head-to-head against the state over the state exam.
- MASTERY: Students in Connecticut won’t be able to get by on extra credit anymore, as the state adopts mastery-based education.
- SPYING: Parents express concerns tech companies are collecting data about students through school-issued devices.
- TEXAS: The Lone Star State is telling cyberbullies, “Don’t mess with Texas students,” proposing a law that would have bullies expelled and charged as criminals for certain online activities.
- UNDOCUMENTED: A civil rights group says schools are violating the Constitution if they don’t address the anxieties of illegal immigrant children.
Teresa Mull is a policy advisor for education and an editor at The Heartland Institute.
