A Colorado mother warns that the state is denying her family $12,000 in preschool funding because she chose a Catholic school. The dispute now heads to the Supreme Court.
Colorado Mother Challenges State Preschool Policy
Erika Nagle, a mother of three whose children attend St. Mary Catholic School in Littleton, says Colorado’s universal preschool program excluded her family after she selected a faith‑based option. She says this exclusion undermines the state’s claim of universal access.
“We are being excluded from this benefit because we are Catholic,” Nagle told Fox News Digital. “And so in a state that preaches inclusion, they are actively going out of their way to exclude a huge chunk of people because of our religious beliefs.”
Supreme Court to Hear Catholic School Funding Case
Colorado launched its preschool funding program in 2023, offering eligible families about $6,300 to cover 15 hours of preschool per week, a benefit promoted as universal and available to public, private and religious schools.
Becket, the organization representing Catholic schools, says the state’s participation requirements unfairly burden religious beliefs and admissions practices, prompting the high court to review the case on Tuesday.
Implications for Religious Education
Nagle says two preschools in the archdiocese have closed, reducing Catholic school enrollment and forcing families to abandon the religious education they desire. She notes that every school, including St. Mary, applies community‑specific admissions criteria such as neighborhood ties, LGBTQ status, special needs or income level. Nagle asked why Catholic schools should be treated differently.
State Response and Broader Context
A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) declined to comment on the pending litigation. Fox News Digital has not yet received a response from Governor Jared Polis’ office. The case follows similar disputes, including Arkansas students outperforming the national average after universal school choice expansion and Vermont paying $566,000 in damages and legal fees to a Christian school barred from sports competitions for years.
Rachel del Guidice is a culture reporter for Fox News covering the intersection of politics, faith, family, and American culture.
