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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law ensuring that all children with disabilities in America can receive a free appropriate public education that meets their needs. This funding helps pay for the cost of staff training, special education programs, assistive technology, and other services. IDEA provides this funding to states to assist children with disabilities, including by placing children with disabilities in private schools when public schools cannot meet their needs. 

But in California, the Legislature allows only secular private schools to participate in this benefits program and has categorically excluded religious schools from participation.

The Orthodox Union has spearheaded a pathbreaking lawsuit in federal court that challenges California’s decision to exclude Jewish and other students of faith from receiving these benefits. 

Support these efforts to make sure that religious parents, their children with disabilities, and religious schools are treated equally under the law. Urge your state Representative to overturn this discriminatory policy.