SCOTUS will take Colorado Catholic preschool case

The US Supreme Court will hear a Colorado case about whether preschools can receive public dollars while refusing admission to LGBTQ families. (KGNU/Jackie Sedley)

SCOTUS will take Colorado Catholic preschool case Abby O'Brien

Last week, the Supreme Court of the United States decided to take a Colorado case involving public funding for Catholic preschools that refuse to admit children from LGBTQ families. KGNU’s Abby O’Brien spoke with Chalkbeat education reporter Ann Schimke, who has been covering the story.

The two Catholic preschools at the center of the case are St. Mary Catholic Virtue School in Littleton and Wellspring Catholic Academy in Lakewood.

When Colorado launched its universal preschool program in 2023, those schools wanted to receive those public funds, but they did not want to have to admit LGBTQ students or students from LGBTQ families. The universal preschool program requires schools to offer equal opportunity for admission to all students. It specifically cites several protected characteristics including sexual orientation and gender identity.

The two Catholic preschools asked the state for a waiver from that requirement and the state refused. Two lower courts have sided with the state. Now, SCOTUS will take up the case.

You can read Ann Schimke’s reporting on this story at chalkbeat.org.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.