Colorado denies Catholic families preschool funding, faces Supreme Court challenge

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 02:03 · Archive

Colorado's universal preschool program denies funding to families choosing Catholic education, prompting a Supreme Court case.

A Colorado mother of three says her family was denied $12,000 in taxpayer-funded preschool benefits because she chose a Catholic education for her children. Erika Nagle, whose children attend St. Mary Catholic School in Littleton, Colorado, says two of her children were denied access to the state's preschool funding programme, leaving her family to cover additional education expenses.

Colorado launched its universal preschool programme in 2023, offering eligible families approximately $6,300 to cover 15 hours of preschool per week. The programme was promoted as a universal benefit that would allow parents to choose among public, private and religious preschools. Nagle says the funding offers more than $6,000 per eligible child for preschool education.

Nagle said: 'We are being excluded from this benefit because we are Catholic. And so in a state that preaches inclusion, they are actively going out of their way to exclude a huge chunk of people because of our religious beliefs.' Catholic schools challenging the programme argue that the state's participation requirements unfairly burden their religious beliefs and admissions practices. Nagle said the consequences extend beyond her family's finances, claiming two preschools in the archdiocese have been closed down and the programme pressures families to abandon the religious education they want for their children.

The dispute is heading to the Supreme Court.

How it is being reported

• Colorado mom says kids denied $12K in preschool aid over Catholic faith as case goes to Supreme CourtColorado mother Erika Nagle says her kids were denied $12,000 in preschool aid due to their Catholic faith, sparking a Supreme Court dispute.New York Post · 30 Oct, 01:51
• Colorado mom says kids denied $12K in preschool aid over Catholic faith as Supreme Court showdown loomsErika Nagle says Colorado denied her family $12,000 in preschool benefits because she chose Catholic school, calling it religious discrimination.Fox News · 29 Oct, 22:32

In this story: Erika Nagle · Colorado · St. Mary Catholic School · Littleton · Supreme Court

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log