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No. 20-1088October Term 2020Decided Jun 21, 2022Updated May 24, 2026

Docket 20-1088October Term 2020 (2020–2021)

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
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedJun 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.

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