Nebraska parents sue over public-school funding tied to government curriculum

The New Civil Liberties Alliance has initiated a lawsuit in Lancaster County, Nebraska, asserting that the state’s compulsory education statutes and public-school-only funding scheme violate both the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment and Nebraska’s free-speech clause. Representing the Jacobsen and Menter families, the filing contends that requiring enrollment in public, private, denominational, parochial, or homeschool settings while providing financial benefits solely to public-school students forces parents to subsidize government-approved curricula.

The plaintiffs left the Lincoln Public School District after encountering classroom materials they describe as promoting alternative sexuality and transgender viewpoints. The complaint highlights that the state spends about $19,000 annually per public-school student, effectively penalizing families who opt for non-public education. By framing education as speech, the suit seeks broader financial choices for families nationwide who reject the government’s curricular messages. The case could compel states with similar funding models to reassess how they allocate educational aid.