Supreme Court to hear Littleton preschool case
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The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case brought by a Catholic school in Littleton, alleging Colorado violated its religious rights by barring it from the state's universal preschool program.
Why it matters: It's the latest in a string of high-profile cases with Colorado ties and could test how far states can go in enforcing nondiscrimination rules in taxpayer-funded programs.
- It also puts a spotlight on a signature policy of Gov. Jared Polis, the country's first openly gay governor, who championed Colorado's universal preschool program.
State of play: The Archdiocese of Denver argues it's unconstitutional to bar St. Mary Catholic Parish from participating in the state's free preschool program because of its faith-based policies on LGBTQ families and children, the Associated Press reports.
- Colorado officials counter that religious schools can participate, but only if they comply with state nondiscrimination laws for the taxpayer-funded program.
- Meanwhile, the parish says enrolling children from LGBTQ families conflicts with its religious beliefs.
Between the lines: The case is backed by the Trump administration, which filed a brief supporting the archdiocese in the case, NBC reports.
- The plaintiffs are represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
- Parents are spending thousands of dollars out of pocket because they cannot access the preschool program, and they are asking the court to affirm the program is "truly universal," the Becket Fund said in a statement.
What's next: The court is expected to hear arguments in the fall.