{ "name": "School Choice Litigation State Tracker", "alternate_name": "School Choice Lawsuits by State Dataset", "version": "1.0.0", "last_verified": "2026-08-03", "publisher": "The School Choice Index", "author": "The School Choice Index Editorial Team", "canonical_url": "https://theschoolchoiceindex.com/research/school-choice-lawsuits-by-state/", "headline_findings": { "active_matters": 16, "states_with_active_matters": 13, "program_validity_or_funding": 12, "religious_or_private_school_access": 4, "state_constitutional_or_funding_principal_regime": 11, "federal_constitutional_principal_regime": 5, "narrow_conventional_program_matters": 15, "narrow_conventional_program_states": 12, "adverse_state_court_rulings_since_2024_04": 5, "adverse_rulings_with_express_private_tuition_fee_injunction": 1 }, "scope": { "included": "Unresolved litigation directly affecting state-authorized K–12 private-school-choice funding or participation.", "excluded": [ "broad public-school adequacy or finance cases without a direct private-choice claim", "charter-only cases", "pre-K-only cases", "ballot, petition or referendum procedure cases", "criminal fraud prosecutions", "ordinary provider-payment or vendor disputes", "athletics and eligibility disputes", "resolved matters", "duplicate appeals, remands, renamed captions and consolidated complaints" ], "unit_of_count": "One distinct underlying trial matter. Appeals, remands, renamed captions and consolidated related complaints update the same row unless legally severed.", "broad_scope_note": "The 16-matter, 13-state count includes the Massachusetts special-education-benefit case.", "narrow_scope_note": "Excluding the Massachusetts special-education-benefit case yields 15 matters in 12 states." }, "methodology": { "jurisdictions_reviewed": 51, "source_hierarchy": [ "official court opinion or order", "official court docket", "filed complaint, amended complaint or brief", "government litigation report", "administering-agency program page", "counsel or party case page for procedural corroboration", "reputable reporting when an official docket was not publicly accessible" ], "classification_note": "Dispute class and principal legal regime are separate, mutually exclusive editorial fields. A pleading may contain additional claims.", "operating_status_note": "Court posture and program operating status are recorded separately." }, "procedural_snapshot": [ { "group": "Trial-level merits or post-judgment appeal", "count": 4 }, { "group": "Remand, preliminary relief or interlocutory posture", "count": 4 }, { "group": "Pleading, motion practice or early merits stage", "count": 7 }, { "group": "U.S. Supreme Court petition stage", "count": 1 } ], "active_cases": [ { "record_id": "AK-2023-01", "state": "Alaska", "case_name": "Alexander et al. v. Department of Education and Early Development", "alternate_name": "Alexander v. Teshner; State Department of Education & Early Development v. Alexander", "trial_docket": "3AN-23-04309CI", "appeal_docket": "S-19083", "court": "Alaska Superior Court, Third Judicial District / Alaska Supreme Court", "filed": "2023-01-24", "program": "Correspondence Study Program allotments", "program_type": "Correspondence-study allotment", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Direct-benefit restriction; facial versus as-applied challenge; district approval of individual expenditures", "current_posture": "Pending on remand", "latest_action_date": "2026-03-10", "latest_verified_action": "The March 2026 attorney-general report said the superior court had denied a motion to dismiss on September 29, 2025 and that discovery was ongoing.", "merits_status": "The trial court's facial invalidation was reversed; no final merits judgment on specific expenditures", "program_operating": "Yes, subject to current rules and ongoing litigation", "disposition_class": "Remand after facial ruling reversed", "primary_source": "https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/media/MRCF/3AN-23-04309CI/", "status_source": "https://education.alaska.gov/State_Board/march-2026/21E_AG%20Standing%20Report_3.10.2026.pdf", "count_rule": "One underlying trial matter; appeal and remand update the same row", "notes": "The Alaska Supreme Court reversed from the bench on June 28, 2024 and issued its written opinion on March 28, 2025.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "AR-2024-01", "state": "Arkansas", "case_name": "Faulkenberry v. Arkansas Department of Education", "alternate_name": "State-court EFA challenge", "trial_docket": "60CV-24-4630", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "Pulaski County Circuit Court / Arkansas Supreme Court", "filed": "2024-06-07", "program": "Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts", "program_type": "Education freedom account", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Public-school funds; illegal exaction; sovereign immunity; intervention", "current_posture": "Pending in trial court after procedural appeals", "latest_action_date": "2025-12-11", "latest_verified_action": "The Arkansas Supreme Court resolved sovereign-immunity and intervention issues and returned the matter for further proceedings.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Yes", "disposition_class": "Procedural/interlocutory", "primary_source": "https://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-06-07-Complaint-4895-4253-9463-v.1.pdf", "status_source": "https://arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/December_2025_Appellate_Update.pdf", "count_rule": "Separate state-court matter from the later federal case", "notes": "The December 2025 decisions did not decide the constitutionality of the program.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "AR-2025-02", "state": "Arkansas", "case_name": "Faulkenberry v. Arkansas Department of Education", "alternate_name": "Federal EFA challenge", "trial_docket": "4:25-cv-00592-DPM", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas", "filed": "2025-06-13", "program": "Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts", "program_type": "Education freedom account", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "Federal constitutional", "primary_issues": "Federal Establishment Clause and related as-applied funding claims", "current_posture": "Pending after partial dismissal and amendment", "latest_action_date": "2026-02-25", "latest_verified_action": "Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint after the court's February 18 partial-dismissal order.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Yes", "disposition_class": "Early merits / pleading stage", "primary_source": "https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-ared-4_25-cv-00592", "status_source": "https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/document/2026/03/02/LRSD_AmendedComplaint1_CLEAN.pdf", "count_rule": "Separate federal docket and legal theory from the Arkansas state case", "notes": "Claims are allegations unless adopted by a court.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "FL-2026-01", "state": "Florida", "case_name": "Spar et al. v. Kamoutsas et al.", "alternate_name": "Florida scholarship and charter constitutional challenge", "trial_docket": "2026 CA 000929", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit, Leon County, Florida", "filed": "2026-05-05", "program": "Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and related statutes", "program_type": "Voucher / scholarship", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Uniformity, public-school and state-school-fund provisions", "current_posture": "Pending at pleading stage", "latest_action_date": "2026-05-05", "latest_verified_action": "The complaint was filed; no final merits ruling was located by the verification date.", "merits_status": "No", "program_operating": "Yes", "disposition_class": "Early merits / pleading stage", "primary_source": "https://feaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/247476194-Complaint-Concerning-Constitutional-Challenge-To-Statute-Or-Ordinance.pdf", "status_source": "https://leonclerk.com/helpful-resources/news-notices/high-profile-cases/", "count_rule": "Direct constitutional challenge that includes private-school scholarships", "notes": "The case also addresses charter schools; it is included because it directly challenges private-school scholarship programs.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "ME-2023-01", "state": "Maine", "case_name": "St. Dominic Academy v. Makin", "alternate_name": "", "trial_docket": "2:23-cv-00246-JAW", "appeal_docket": "24-1739", "court": "U.S. District Court for Maine / U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit", "filed": "2023-06-13", "program": "Maine town-tuitioning program", "program_type": "Town tuitioning", "dispute_class": "Religious/private-school access", "principal_legal_regime": "Federal constitutional", "primary_issues": "Free Exercise; unconstitutional conditions; religious expression and nondiscrimination rules", "current_posture": "Pending on remand; preliminary relief ordered in part", "latest_action_date": "2026-07-02", "latest_verified_action": "The First Circuit affirmed in part, reversed in part and directed preliminary relief against the Religious Expression Rule while remanding.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Yes; challenged participation conditions remain under review", "disposition_class": "Remand / preliminary relief", "primary_source": "https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/opn/aci?OPINNUM=24-1739", "status_source": "https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/opn/aci?OPINNUM=24-1739", "count_rule": "Underlying case remains unresolved after appeal and remand", "notes": "The First Circuit's ruling was mixed and preliminary, not a final judgment on every challenged rule.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "MA-2024-01", "state": "Massachusetts", "case_name": "Hellman et al. v. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education", "alternate_name": "Hellman v. Craven", "trial_docket": "1:24-cv-11200", "appeal_docket": "25-1417; U.S. Supreme Court 26-97", "court": "U.S. District Court for Massachusetts / First Circuit / U.S. Supreme Court", "filed": "2024-05-06", "program": "Publicly funded special-education services for private-school students", "program_type": "Special-education benefit", "dispute_class": "Religious/private-school access", "principal_legal_regime": "Federal constitutional", "primary_issues": "Free Exercise, parental rights and the permitted location of publicly funded services", "current_posture": "Certiorari petition pending", "latest_action_date": "2026-07-21", "latest_verified_action": "The Supreme Court docketed the July 20 certiorari petition as No. 26-97; a response was due August 20, 2026.", "merits_status": "First Circuit merits ruling; Supreme Court review not resolved", "program_operating": "Yes, under the challenged delivery rule", "disposition_class": "U.S. Supreme Court petition stage", "primary_source": "https://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/sites/ca1/files/opnfiles/25-1417P-01A.pdf", "status_source": "https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26-97.html", "count_rule": "Unresolved Supreme Court petition stage under the tracker's broad participation scope", "notes": "Excluding this broader special-education-benefit case yields 15 matters in 12 states.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "MO-2025-01", "state": "Missouri", "case_name": "Missouri National Education Association v. State of Missouri", "alternate_name": "", "trial_docket": "25AC-CC05358", "appeal_docket": "Appeal announced; docket not independently confirmed", "court": "Cole County Circuit Court, Missouri", "filed": "2025-06-30", "program": "MOScholars", "program_type": "Tax-credit scholarship", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Standing, sovereign immunity, statutory authority and state constitutional funding claims", "current_posture": "Trial judgment entered; appeal announced", "latest_action_date": "2026-04-14", "latest_verified_action": "The circuit court entered judgment for the defendants on standing, sovereign immunity and alternative merits grounds.", "merits_status": "Trial-level judgment; appellate review announced", "program_operating": "Yes", "disposition_class": "Trial-level merits/post-judgment", "primary_source": "https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/Circuit-Court-Decision.pdf", "status_source": "https://www.mnea.org/press-releases/missouri-educators-appeal-moscholars-ruling", "count_rule": "Trial judgment remains in the active tracker while appellate review is being pursued", "notes": "The final page does not publish an appellate docket number because it was not independently confirmed.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "MT-2024-01", "state": "Montana", "case_name": "Montana Quality Education Coalition and Disability Rights Montana v. State of Montana", "alternate_name": "", "trial_docket": "ADV-2024-44", "appeal_docket": "DA 26-0179", "court": "Montana First Judicial District Court / Montana Supreme Court", "filed": "2024-01-23", "program": "Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account", "program_type": "Education savings account", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Statutory appropriation, education provisions, equality and public funding", "current_posture": "Appeal pending after final trial judgment", "latest_action_date": "2026-03-18", "latest_verified_action": "Final judgment followed the December 2025 summary-judgment order, and the state appealed.", "merits_status": "Funding mechanism invalidated at trial; appeal pending", "program_operating": "Confirmed through June 30, 2026; later status not confirmed", "disposition_class": "Trial-level merits/post-judgment", "primary_source": "https://juddocumentservice.mt.gov/getDocByCTrackId?DocId=572570", "status_source": "https://disabilityrightsmt.org/hb393/", "count_rule": "The appeal updates the same underlying case", "notes": "The source record does not support the draft's claim of a nine-day payment shutdown.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "OH-2022-01", "state": "Ohio", "case_name": "Columbus City School District v. State of Ohio", "alternate_name": "Vouchers Hurt Ohio litigation", "trial_docket": "22 CV 67", "appeal_docket": "25AP-603, 25AP-604, 25AP-605", "court": "Franklin County Court of Common Pleas / Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals", "filed": "2022-01-04", "program": "EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion", "program_type": "Voucher", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Common-school and education-funding provisions", "current_posture": "Appeal pending after trial judgment", "latest_action_date": "2026-05-12", "latest_verified_action": "The appellate court heard oral argument; no later opinion was located by August 3, 2026.", "merits_status": "Program invalidated at trial; judgment stayed pending appeal", "program_operating": "Yes during appeal", "disposition_class": "Trial-level merits/post-judgment", "primary_source": "https://spectrumnews1.com/content/dam/News/static/pdfs/oh/ohio-vouchers-lawsuit-judge-decision-062525.pdf", "status_source": "https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-05-13/lawsuit-over-ohios-edchoice-voucher-program-goes-to-appeals-court", "count_rule": "Consolidated appellate numbers update one trial case", "notes": "The trial judgment is dated June 24, 2025 and includes a stay.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "TN-2025-01", "state": "Tennessee", "case_name": "Young v. Lee", "alternate_name": "", "trial_docket": "25-1621-II", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "Davidson County Chancery Court, Tennessee", "filed": "2025-11-20", "program": "Education Freedom Scholarship Program", "program_type": "Voucher / scholarship", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Public-education duties and public-school funding", "current_posture": "Pending at trial", "latest_action_date": "2026-07-10", "latest_verified_action": "The court granted participating parents permissive intervention in July 2026.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Yes", "disposition_class": "Early merits / pleading stage", "primary_source": "https://pfps.org/assets/img/files/COMPLAINT.pdf", "status_source": "https://www.beacontn.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/EFS-Order-Granting-Parents-Motion-to-Intervene.pdf", "count_rule": "Separate challenge to the statewide Education Freedom Scholarship law", "notes": "The draft's December 2025 intervention date was incorrect; the motion was filed earlier, but intervention was granted in July 2026.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "TN-2020-02", "state": "Tennessee", "case_name": "Bichell v. Lee", "alternate_name": "Formerly McEwen v. Lee", "trial_docket": "20-0242-II", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "Davidson County Chancery Court / Tennessee appellate courts", "filed": "2020-03-02", "program": "Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program", "program_type": "Education savings account", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "State education duties, equality and local-governance claims", "current_posture": "Pending at trial after appellate proceedings", "latest_action_date": "2025-12-02", "latest_verified_action": "Plaintiffs e-filed a second amended complaint.", "merits_status": "No final judgment on remaining claims", "program_operating": "Yes", "disposition_class": "Early merits / pleading stage", "primary_source": "https://www.splcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bichell-lee-second-amended-complaint.pdf", "status_source": "https://www.aclu-tn.org/cases/mcewen-et-al-v-lee/", "count_rule": "Distinct older ESA-pilot case; not merged with Young v. Lee", "notes": "Both captions are retained for findability.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "TX-2026-01", "state": "Texas", "case_name": "Bayaan Academy et al. v. Hancock et al.", "alternate_name": "Related complaint consolidated", "trial_docket": "4:26-cv-01960", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas", "filed": "2026-03-11", "program": "Texas Education Savings Account implementation", "program_type": "Education savings account", "dispute_class": "Religious/private-school access", "principal_legal_regime": "Federal constitutional", "primary_issues": "Free Exercise, equal treatment and alleged religious discrimination in implementation", "current_posture": "Pending after temporary relief and consolidation", "latest_action_date": "2026-04-09", "latest_verified_action": "A March 17 temporary restraining order extended the application deadline; a further extension was denied March 31, and one related plaintiff was dismissed April 9.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Implementation underway; challenged eligibility issues remain pending", "disposition_class": "Early merits / pleading stage", "primary_source": "https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/archive/2026/60549.pdf", "status_source": "https://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txsdce/4%3A2026cv01960/2067916", "count_rule": "Consolidated related complaints count once", "notes": "The temporary order changed application timing; it did not establish a final right to participate.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "UT-2024-01", "state": "Utah", "case_name": "Labresh v. Cox", "alternate_name": "Brown v. Labresh on appeal", "trial_docket": "240904193", "appeal_docket": "20250512-SC", "court": "Utah Third District Court / Utah Supreme Court", "filed": "2024-05-29", "program": "Utah Fits All Scholarship Program", "program_type": "Education savings account / scholarship", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Public-education control, funding and sectarian-use provisions", "current_posture": "Appeal pending after trial judgment", "latest_action_date": "2026-01-09", "latest_verified_action": "Merits briefing continued in the Utah Supreme Court; no decision was located by August 3, 2026.", "merits_status": "Program invalidated at trial; no injunction entered; appeal pending", "program_operating": "Yes during appeal", "disposition_class": "Trial-level merits/post-judgment", "primary_source": "https://www.utaheducationfitsall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FILE_7779.pdf", "status_source": "https://www.utaheducationfitsall.org/be-informed/", "count_rule": "Appeal and renamed caption are the same underlying case", "notes": "Both trial and appellate captions are shown.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "VT-2026-01", "state": "Vermont", "case_name": "Caspers v. State of Vermont", "alternate_name": "", "trial_docket": "26-CV-01324", "appeal_docket": "", "court": "Vermont Superior Court, Washington Civil Division", "filed": "2026-02-27", "program": "Act 73 changes to Vermont town tuitioning", "program_type": "Town tuitioning", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Vermont Common Benefits Clause and differential treatment among tuitioning communities", "current_posture": "Pending on amended complaint and motion practice", "latest_action_date": "2026-05-13", "latest_verified_action": "A May 8 first amended complaint named four parent plaintiffs; motion-to-dismiss and preliminary-injunction briefing followed.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Act 73 implementation and litigation both ongoing", "disposition_class": "Early merits / pleading stage", "primary_source": "https://libertyjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2.-Caspers-FAC.pdf", "status_source": "https://libertyjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Combined-Opposition-and-Reply.pdf", "count_rule": "Direct challenge to Act 73's treatment of tuitioning communities", "notes": "The original complaint began with fewer plaintiffs; the current pleading names four parents.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "VT-2023-02", "state": "Vermont", "case_name": "Mid Vermont Christian Academy v. Saunders", "alternate_name": "Mid Vermont Christian Academy v. Bouchey", "trial_docket": "2:23-cv-00652", "appeal_docket": "26-1416", "court": "U.S. District Court for Vermont / U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit", "filed": "2023-11-21", "program": "Vermont town tuitioning and participation conditions", "program_type": "Town tuitioning", "dispute_class": "Religious/private-school access", "principal_legal_regime": "Federal constitutional", "primary_issues": "Free Exercise and equal-treatment claims involving religious-school access", "current_posture": "Preliminary-relief appeal pending; merits continue", "latest_action_date": "2026-07-01", "latest_verified_action": "Appellate briefing addressed the tuitioning and participation dispute after the district court's May 12 preliminary-relief order.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Yes; challenged conditions remain at issue", "disposition_class": "Remand / preliminary relief", "primary_source": "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-vtd-2_23-cv-00652/pdf/USCOURTS-vtd-2_23-cv-00652-0.pdf", "status_source": "https://libertyjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Mid-Vermont-Christian-Academy-v.-Saunders-Proposed-Amicus-Brief-7.1.26.pdf", "count_rule": "One underlying federal case", "notes": "The final page does not repeat the draft's unverified claim that an athletics component settled.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" }, { "record_id": "WY-2025-01", "state": "Wyoming", "case_name": "Wyoming Education Association v. Degenfelder", "alternate_name": "Degenfelder v. Wyoming Education Association on appeal", "trial_docket": "2025-CV-020336", "appeal_docket": "S-25-0203 / S-25-0204; 2026 WY 54", "court": "Laramie County District Court / Wyoming Supreme Court", "filed": "2025-06-13", "program": "Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Education Savings Account", "program_type": "Education savings account", "dispute_class": "Program validity/funding", "principal_legal_regime": "State constitutional/funding", "primary_issues": "Uniform-school, state-control, public-purpose and aid provisions", "current_posture": "Pending on remand after preliminary injunction reversed", "latest_action_date": "2026-05-14", "latest_verified_action": "The Wyoming Supreme Court reversed the preliminary injunction because the plaintiffs had not shown personal, particularized irreparable injury and remanded without deciding constitutionality.", "merits_status": "No final merits judgment", "program_operating": "Yes after the injunction was lifted", "disposition_class": "Remand / preliminary relief", "primary_source": "https://stwjbopinions.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/wsc-opinions/S-25-0203%200204%20Degenfelder%20v.%20WEA%20final.pdf", "status_source": "https://edu.wyoming.gov/parents/education-savings-accounts/", "count_rule": "Interlocutory appeal updates the same underlying case", "notes": "Before the injunction, no applications had been approved, accounts created or provider payments authorized; the draft's 'payments stopped for ten months' claim was removed.", "last_verified": "2026-08-03" } ], "adverse_rulings": [ { "state": "Alaska", "decision_date": "2024-04-12", "case": "Alexander v. Teshner", "court": "Alaska Superior Court", "ruling": "The trial court facially invalidated the correspondence-allotment statutes.", "payment_effect": "The ruling was reversed by the Alaska Supreme Court before becoming the final disposition; specific-use claims remain possible.", "status": "Reversed; remand litigation continues", "source": "https://public.courts.alaska.gov/web/media/MRCF/3AN-23-04309CI/" }, { "state": "South Carolina", "decision_date": "2024-09-11", "case": "Eidson v. South Carolina Department of Education", "court": "South Carolina Supreme Court", "ruling": "The court held that tuition and fee disbursements violated the state constitution's direct-benefit restriction.", "payment_effect": "Yes. The opinion expressly enjoined scholarship disbursements for private-school tuition and fees.", "status": "Final state-supreme-court merits judgment", "source": "https://www.sccourts.org/media/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/28235.pdf" }, { "state": "Utah", "decision_date": "2025-04-18", "case": "Labresh v. Cox", "court": "Utah Third District Court", "ruling": "The court entered summary judgment against the Utah Fits All Scholarship program.", "payment_effect": "No injunction was entered; the program continued during appeal.", "status": "Appeal pending", "source": "https://www.utaheducationfitsall.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FILE_7779.pdf" }, { "state": "Ohio", "decision_date": "2025-06-24", "case": "Columbus City School District v. State of Ohio", "court": "Franklin County Court of Common Pleas", "ruling": "The court entered judgment against EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion.", "payment_effect": "The judgment itself was stayed pending appeal; the programs continued.", "status": "Appeal pending", "source": "https://spectrumnews1.com/content/dam/News/static/pdfs/oh/ohio-vouchers-lawsuit-judge-decision-062525.pdf" }, { "state": "Montana", "decision_date": "2025-12-08", "case": "Montana Quality Education Coalition v. State", "court": "Montana First Judicial District Court", "ruling": "The court invalidated the ESA funding mechanism on appropriation grounds; final judgment followed in March 2026.", "payment_effect": "The judgment was stayed through June 30, 2026. Later operating status was not confirmed in the reviewed record.", "status": "Appeal pending", "source": "https://juddocumentservice.mt.gov/getDocByCTrackId?DocId=572570" } ], "state_summary": [ { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Alabama", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Alaska", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Alexander et al. v. Department of Education and Early Development" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Arizona", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Arkansas", "active_matter_count": 2, "case_names": [ "Faulkenberry v. Arkansas Department of Education", "Faulkenberry v. Arkansas Department of Education" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "California", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Colorado", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Connecticut", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Delaware", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "District of Columbia", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Florida", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Spar et al. v. Kamoutsas et al." ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Georgia", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Hawaii", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Idaho", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Illinois", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Indiana", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Iowa", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Kansas", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Kentucky", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Louisiana", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Maine", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "St. Dominic Academy v. Makin" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Maryland", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Massachusetts", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Hellman et al. v. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Michigan", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Minnesota", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Mississippi", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Missouri", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Missouri National Education Association v. State of Missouri" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Montana", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Montana Quality Education Coalition and Disability Rights Montana v. State of Montana" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Nebraska", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Nevada", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "New Hampshire", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "New Jersey", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "New Mexico", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "New York", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "North Carolina", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "North Dakota", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Ohio", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Columbus City School District v. State of Ohio" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Oklahoma", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Oregon", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Pennsylvania", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Rhode Island", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "South Carolina", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "South Dakota", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Tennessee", "active_matter_count": 2, "case_names": [ "Young v. Lee", "Bichell v. Lee" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Texas", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Bayaan Academy et al. v. Hancock et al." ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Utah", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Labresh v. Cox" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Vermont", "active_matter_count": 2, "case_names": [ "Caspers v. State of Vermont", "Mid Vermont Christian Academy v. Saunders" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Virginia", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Washington", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "West Virginia", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Wisconsin", "active_matter_count": 0, "case_names": [], "coverage_statement": "No active matter identified under the published scope as of 2026-08-03" }, { "state_or_jurisdiction": "Wyoming", "active_matter_count": 1, "case_names": [ "Wyoming Education Association v. Degenfelder" ], "coverage_statement": "Active matter identified under the published scope" } ], "scope_exclusions": [ { "state": "South Carolina", "matter": "Eidson v. South Carolina Department of Education", "reason": "Resolved final merits case; used in the adverse-rulings analysis, not the active count.", "source": "https://www.sccourts.org/media/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/28235.pdf" }, { "state": "Idaho", "matter": "Challenge to the Parental Choice Tax Credit", "reason": "Resolved before the verification date; the Idaho Supreme Court upheld the program on February 5, 2026.", "source": "https://isc.idaho.gov/opinions/53444.pdf" }, { "state": "Colorado", "matter": "St. Mary Catholic Parish in Littleton v. Roy, No. 25-581", "reason": "Universal preschool case; pre-K is outside the K–12 tracker scope.", "source": "https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-581.html" }, { "state": "Florida", "matter": "Step Up For Students provider-payment litigation", "reason": "Provider/payment administration dispute rather than a direct validity or access challenge.", "source": "" }, { "state": "Arizona", "matter": "Proposition 145 ballot litigation", "reason": "Ballot-measure procedure rather than merits litigation over an operating K–12 program.", "source": "https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Supreme/2026/CV-26-0171-AP-EL.pdf" }, { "state": "Wisconsin", "matter": "School-funding-formula litigation", "reason": "Broad adequacy/funding action without a direct private-choice claim under the tracker rule.", "source": "https://wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/260112Complaint.pdf" }, { "state": "Kentucky", "matter": "Charter-school litigation", "reason": "Charter schools are public schools; charter-only litigation is outside scope.", "source": "" } ] }