Voucher plans that involve payments of tax funds to private schools are suspect on both constitutional and public policy grounds. Analyzes the constitutional issues raised by a recent attempt at voucher legislation in Minnesota. (MLF)

In a University of Virginia court case on denial of university funds for publication of a student Christian newspaper, 23 organizations have filed briefs on 1 side or the other, all highlighting difficult constitutional issues concerning freedom of speech and separation of church and state. Excerpts from four briefs are presented. (MSE)

The Supreme Court, in an upcoming case "Lee v. Weisman," will rule on whether prayer may be offered out loud at a public school graduation program. Argues that past court decisions have interpreted the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment over the Free Speech Clause of that same amendment. (57 references) (MLF)

Most school districts have cautiously avoided situations in which they may violate the legal principle of church-state separation. This paper describes a few cases in which public schools found ways to legally include Christian activities for Christian students. The passage of the United States Equal Access Act in 1984 allowed religious clubs…

Reviews the Wisconsin vs Yoder case, where the United States Supreme Court held that the First and Fourteenth Amendments prevent states from compelling Amish children to attend formal high school to age sixteen, and examines the actions of various state officials attempting to follow that case. Available from School of Law, Washburn University,…

Author contends that student religious clubs have a constitutional right to exist in the public schools, because such meetings are within the scope of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Landmark Supreme Court church-state decisions are cited. Available from Emory University School of Law, 1722 North Decatur…

Interpretation of the establishment clause of the Constitution and its application to statutes challenged by the United States Supreme Court has followed two distinct paths--one embracing the principle of separation of church and state, the other stressing the importance of accommodation between them. Both legal trends are discussed. (TE)

Supreme Court litigation concerning the teaching of evolution in public schools is discussed. Questions regarding the cases for classroom discussion with secondary students are provided. (RM)

Court cases involving attempts to impose regulations on religious schools document the need for the Supreme Court to furnish guidelines on what constitutes reasonable state regulations, what religious educational practices are constitutionally protected, and what are permissable intrusions by the state into the affairs of religious institutions.…

The author urges Catholic educators to fight federal regulation of their schools and to extend the freedom of education according to one's conscience to the poor as well as the rich. (SJL)

Simply because an off-campus speaker plans to lecture on a religious topic provides no compelling state interest on the part of school officials in denying access to the campus. Available from the Christian Legal Society, Box 2069, Oak Park, Illinois 60303; $5.00 per year. (Author)

Presents the pro and con viewpoints about the school voucher system in: "A Case for Including Religiously Affiliated Schools in Publicly Funded Voucher Systems" (Teresa Stanton Collett) and "The Inclusion of Religious Schools in Public Voucher Systems is Unconstitutional" (Caren Dubnoff). (CMK)

In "Mergens," the Supreme Court ruled that the Equal Access Act (EAA) was constitutional and that students at a high school with a "limited open forum" could participate in a prayer club. Traces the history of the case, arguments by the justices, and practical implications of the case for school districts. (66 references) (MLF)

Vouchers' constitutionality was given new life by "Agostini vs. Felton," in which the U.S. Supreme Court reversed an earlier decision banning onsite delivery of Title I services in sectarian schools. "Agostini" may signal a new era favoring increased aid to religiously affiliated schools, such as those participating in…

The United States Supreme Court is currently deliberating the case of "Kiryas Joel." At issue is a public school district set up specifically to meet the religious needs of an orthodox Jewish community, as the community defines them. Presents opposing arguments from the New York State School Boards Association and the National Jewish…