No. 20-1088October Term 2020Decided Jun 21, 2022Updated May 24, 2026
Carson v. Makin
This case is about Maine’s tuition-assistance program for families in school districts without their own public secondary schools and whether the state can exclude schools that provide religious instruction from that program.
Case status
Decided 6-3 · June 21, 2022 · Opinion by Chief Justice Roberts
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 21, 2022
- What it's about
This case is about Maine’s tuition-assistance program for families in school districts without their own public secondary schools and whether the state can exclude schools that provide religious instruction from that program. The dispute asks whether Maine may offer generally available school aid while denying families the option to use it at religious schools.
Question presented
Does a state violate the Religion Clauses or Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution by prohibiting students participating in an otherwise generally available student-aid program from choosing to use their aid to attend schools that provide religious, or "sectarian," instruction?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit / Decision released Jun 21, 2022
- Area
Civil Rights
Timing
Decided June 21, 2022
The Court released its decision on June 21, 2022 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 24, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: opinion
Jun 21, 2022 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Feb 4, 2021 | Court records
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology