Suit alleges that is depriving students of the opportunity to get a head start on college at schools that embrace their faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Areligious liberty group, Christian schools, and families from the schools are battling the state of Minnesota for banning certain Christian colleges and universities from using a free college credit program, a ruling a senior counsel called \u201cdisgraceful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of Northwestern, St. Paul and Crown College as well as families from the schools are \u201cchallenging a Minnesota law\u201d that excludes universities requiring \u201cstudents to sign a statement of faith from the state\u2019s Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program,\u201d according to a news release from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Becket is a nonprofit that seeks to defend religious liberty, as explained on its website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Becket is helping the affected schools and families in their fight, including filing a federal lawsuit against Minnesota in 2023, according to the Loe v. Jett case details on Becket\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When reached for comment, Becket provided the news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe raise our children to put their faith at the center of everything they do,\u201d Minnesota parents Mark and Melinda Loe said in the Becket news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnfortunately, Minnesota is depriving kids like ours of the opportunity to get a head start on college at schools that embrace their faith,\u201d the Loes said. \u201cWe hope the court will strike this law down and protect all religious students and the schools they want to attend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Created nearly 40 years ago, Minnesota\u2019s PSEO program enables \u201chigh school juniors and seniors to earn college credit for free,\u201d as stated by Becket\u2019s news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the PSEO program, \u201cstudents have been able to attend any eligible public or private school of their choice,\u201d according to the release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, in 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz \u201csigned a bill into law that amends the PSEO to exclude religious schools like Crown and Northwestern from participating because of the faith statement requirement from on-campus students,\u201d Becket\u2019s case details state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the case details, the statements of faith simply ask if students \u201cwill embrace the schools\u2019 religious beliefs for the purpose of upholding a strong Christian community on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When reached twice each for comment, neither Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Commisioner of Education Willie Jett, nor Jett\u2019s assistant Marquetta Stokes responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, \u201cMinnesota promised not to enforce the law while the case is ongoing,\u201d according to the case details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Northwestern President Corbin Hoornbeek said in Becket\u2019s news release that \u201cMinnesota wants to single out\u201d the university because of its \u201cunique campus culture which integrates faith and learning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe pray the court will recognize that and continue to allow us to help on-campus PSEO students flourish in their faith and education,\u201d Hoornbeek said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Andrew Denton of Crown College said in the news release that Crown College has been \u201cgrateful to extend\u201d its opportunity for biblically-integrated education \u201cto young students who seek to join [Crown\u2019s] Christian community through the PSEO program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe pray that the court will continue to allow every student in Minnesota to use PSEO funds at the school that best meets their needs and matches their values,\u201d Denton said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Center Square reached out to Northwestern\u2019s senior vice president for media Jason Sharp and senior director of marketing Jennifer Clemens, as well as Crown College. None responded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Becket\u2019s vice president and senior counsel Eric Baxter said that \u201cpoliticians in St. Paul are slamming the door on thousands of high schoolers who want to get a head start on college simply because they\u2019re religious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s disgraceful: the state should be helping educate its students, not cutting them off from opportunities that will allow them to grow,\u201d Baxter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re confident the court will strike down Minnesota\u2019s ban for good,\u201d Baxter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Becket said in the case details that \u201creligious schools should be able to participate in publicly available programs without discrimination, and religious school students should be able to participate in these programs on equal footing as students who attend non-religious schools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n