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(Washington D.C.) - Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had decided not to review the March 2005 unanimous D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Establishment Clause permits AmeriCorps members to teach secular subjects in religious schools even if the members choose, on their own time, to teach religion. The appeals court also upheld the provision of $400 per member grants to religiously-affiliated grantees to partially defray the costs of administering the program.
Following is a statement by Stephen Goldsmith, Board Chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps’ parent agency:
“This Supreme Court decision is a milestone for needy students and for the AmeriCorps members who serve them. With this action, there is clear judicial support for continuing to allow AmeriCorps members to teach secular subjects in religious schools. It also ensures that AmeriCorps members don’t lose their right to religious expression on their own time because they answer the call to serve their country. With this case now behind us, we look forward to helping more of our neediest students benefit from the idealism and energy of AmeriCorps members, wherever they attend school.”
The opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is available at http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/05_0308_ajc.pdf.
The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.
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