Dive Brief:
-
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a lawsuit against the state’s Preschool Opens Doors program, alleging it violates the separation of church and state.
-
Preschool Opens Doors provides families with subsidies each month that can be used to enroll a child in childcare or preschool. While the money is not directed toward religious institutions, many families are choosing religious-based schools.
- While families have a right to educate their children in religious institutions, it's unconstitutional for public funds to go toward religious teachings, the lawsuit said.
Dive Insight:
The ACLU’s belief that Preschool Opens Doors is unconstitutional is parallel to the many beliefs that voucher programs are unconstitutional. Both programs allow families to funnel public dollars into religious institutions and programs.
And similar to states with voucher programs, Hawaii’s Senate Education Committee Chairwoman said she was caught off guard by the lawsuit, wishing the ACLU’s concerns could have been addressed outside the court.
