by Jorge Gomez • 2 minutes
We have a major court date coming up in a case that could impact millions of families who choose a religious education.
On June 4, First Liberty will argue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of the Woolard, Gonzales and Dodson families. All are devout Christians raising school-age children and whose Christian faith is central to their identity and worldview. The state, however, is discriminating against them simply for choosing a religious education.
Our clients educate their children at home, with the help of online charter schools. California offers a program in which families can access public funds to choose homeschool curriculum, other instructional materials, and extracurricular activities for their children. But the state says parents are not allowed to purchase curriculum or school materials if they are religious.
Additionally, the schools refuse to issue credit for coursework that originates from a religious curriculum, a religious publisher, or that reflects a religious perspective. The Dodson family was even expelled from an online charter school program because of their religious choice, despite their student’s excellent academic performance up to that point.
We filed a federal lawsuit against the California Department of Education, arguing that the government is treating religious families more harshly than everyone else, which is unconstitutional.
Our lawsuit explains that state officials must follow the law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent. In First Liberty’s landmark victory in Carson v. Makin, the Supreme Court made clear that when the government provides a publicly available benefit, such as parent-directed educational funding, it cannot exclude families just because they choose to use that benefit for a religious education.
As we prepare for this important oral argument, we need your support. Please pray for:
We want to thank you for standing strong alongside our clients. Your prayers, encouragement and support have been critical in this battle. We would not have been able to get this far without you.
With oral argument just a few days away, this is a special opportunity for you to impact the future of religious liberty in America.
In this final stretch, the Woolard, Gonzales, and Dodson families need your support now more than ever. They can’t do it alone. We’re asking you to join us—and them—in this legal battle.
These families are just like yours. Just like mine. They simply want what’s best for their kids. But the state keeps getting in their way and mistreating them.
This case impacts virtually every family in America—and we need your help to win. This is our opportunity to potentially set a precedent that protects not only our clients, but also your family and millions of families across the country.
Please give to First Liberty today.
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