Rocket
Mini tools
Michael Avi Helfand
@michaelavihelfa Tasks: 8
🛠️ 3 tools
🙏 5 karma
Beginner
Joined: April 2025
Follow
Michael Avi Helfand's tools
-
621Released 5mo ago100% Free## New Jersey's Violation of Carson v. Makin: A Threat to Educational Freedom The Supreme Court's decision in *Carson v. Makin* (2022) marked a significant milestone in the debate over school choice and educational freedom in the United States. In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled that Maine's exclusion of religious schools from its tuition assistance program violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The decision effectively expanded the reach of school choice programs, giving parents more options for their children's education. However, not all states have complied with the ruling. New Jersey, in particular, has been accused of violating the *Carson v. Makin* decision. ### Background: *Carson v. Makin* The *Carson v. Makin* case centered on Maine's tuition assistance program, which provided financial aid to low-income families to help them pay for their children's education at private schools. While the program allowed parents to choose any private school, including religious ones, the state's Department of Education excluded schools that provided "sectarian" instruction. The plaintiffs, a group of parents, argued that this exclusion was unconstitutional because it discriminated against religious schools. The Supreme Court agreed, holding that Maine's exclusion of religious schools from its tuition assistance program was unconstitutional. The Court emphasized that the Free Exercise Clause prohibits the government from discriminating against religious institutions when providing benefits to secular institutions. ### New Jersey's Resistance Despite the clear ruling in *Carson v. Makin*, New Jersey has been accused of resisting the decision. The state's Governor, Phil Murphy, and the New Jersey Department of Education have been criticized for their continued exclusion of religious schools from the state's school choice programs. In 2022, the New Jersey Department of Education announced that it would not allow parents to use state-funded scholarships to attend religious schools. The Department claimed that the state's constitution and laws prohibited state funding for "sectarian" schools. However, this reasoning directly contradicts the Supreme Court's decision in *Carson v. Makin*. ### Implications New Jersey's resistance to *Carson v. Makin* has significant implications for educational freedom and the rights of parents. By excluding religious schools from state-funded programs, the state is effectively limiting the choices available to low-income families. This not only harms parents who rely on these programs to provide their children with a quality education but also perpetuates a system of educational inequality. Moreover, New Jersey's actions undermine the principles of educational freedom and parental choice that underpin the *Carson v. Makin* decision. By discriminating against religious schools, the state is essentially telling parents that their choice of school is not valid or worthy of support. ### Conclusion New Jersey's violation of *Carson v. Makin* is a concerning development that threatens the principles of educational freedom and parental choice. By excluding religious schools from state-funded programs, the state is not only violating the Supreme Court's decision but also harming low-income families who rely on these programs. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold, but one thing is clear: the *Carson v. Makin* decision has opened up new possibilities for educational freedom, and states like New Jersey must be held accountable for their actions.
-
542Released 5mo ago100% Free
-
621Released 5mo ago100% Free
Comments
On
Michael Avi Helfand
🛠️ 3 tools
🙏 5 karma
Apr 29, 2025
It’s great and so good at writing about law
