Supreme Court Upholds Program Aiding Religious Schools

By Mark Walsh

Washington

Web Extra! Ruling in a case with implications for government aid to private schools as wide-ranging as tuition vouchers and Internet connections, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a federal program that lends computers, software, and library books to religious schools.

In the 6-3 decision June 28—involving the program once known as Chapter 2 and now called Title VI—a majority of justices also partially struck down two landmark Supreme Court rulings from the 1970s that barred the government provision of maps, charts, overhead projectors, and other instructional materials to religious schools.

But while six justices agreed the Chapter 2 program should be upheld, no opinion commanded a majority of the court. Writing for a four-member plurality in Mitchell v. Helms (Case No. 98-1648), Justice Clarence Thomas said: "It is the students and their parents—not the government—who, through their choice of school, determine who receives Chapter 2 funds. The...