School Choice VICTORY: Judge Rules School District Violated the Law by Denying Christian Student Transportation Benefits

When a New Jersey father chose to send his daughter to a Christian school, he expected equal treatment under state law. Instead, the local school district denied transportation benefits his family was entitled to – until the ACLJ stepped in.

The ACLJ has secured a decisive victory for this New Jersey family. Yesterday, Administrative Law Judge Aurelio Vincitore granted our Motion for Summary Judgment, ruling that the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education unlawfully denied transportation benefits to a student attending a Christian school. This win represents more than just one family’s triumph – it’s a powerful affirmation that government bureaucracies cannot manipulate facts and ignore clear legal mandates to discriminate against families who choose religious education for their children.

Take action with us as we continue to fight for the rights of people of faith to choose the school of their choice. Add your name to the petition: Demand School Choice

Standing Firm Against Government Overreach

As we reported in May, this case began when our client’s daughter was denied the transportation benefits clearly mandated by New Jersey law. The district claimed the Christian school was more than 20 miles from the family’s home – the maximum distance for eligibility under state statute.

But the evidence told a different story. Our client provided mapping data showing the school fell within the legal distance. When the district dismissed this evidence, he went further – hiring a licensed professional surveying company to conduct an official measurement. The professional survey confirmed what our client knew all along: His daughter qualified for transportation benefits under state law.

Despite this overwhelming evidence, the school district doubled down, claiming the distance exceeded 20 miles and relying on a distance methodology that violated state regulations. They counted on this family giving up. They were wrong.

The Judge Saw Through the District’s Tactics

In his decision, Judge Vincitore cut straight to the heart of the matter. New Jersey regulations explicitly require that distance “shall be measured using the shortest route along public roadways or public walkways.” The word “shall” isn’t a suggestion – it’s a mandate. The district, meanwhile, relied on Google Maps’ walking distance, a method that violated the controlling regulation by excluding public roadways from consideration.

The judge rejected the district’s approach completely, holding that since the school board “did not consider public roadways, the Board’s method of measurement is not entitled to deference.” In other words, the district cannot demand deference for a method that directly contradicts state law. His decision was powerful: “The Board must consider the shortest route using both public roadways and walkways. That is not a matter left to the discretion of the Board.”

Why This Victory Matters for School Choice

This case exemplifies a troubling pattern we see nationwide: Government officials create arbitrary barriers to deny school choice benefits to families exercising their constitutional right to religious education. They manipulate measurement standards, fabricate excuses, and hope families lack the resources to fight back.

This victory sends an unmistakable message: The ACLJ will not allow government bureaucracies to treat Christian families as second-class citizens. When officials willfully ignore clear legal mandates, we will hold them accountable in court.

Judge Vincitore’s decision is an “initial decision” that goes to the New Jersey Commissioner of the Department of Education for final consideration. The Commissioner has 45 days to adopt, modify, or reject the decision. If no action is taken within that timeframe, the decision automatically becomes final. We expect the Commissioner to adopt this well-reasoned decision in full. The law is clear, the facts are undisputed, and justice demands that this family receive the benefits they’re entitled to under state law. We are prepared to defend the decision in whatever forum is necessary.

While we celebrate this victory, we recognize that the fight for school choice and educational freedom continues. Across the country, religious schools and their students face discrimination in facility access, sports participation, textbook loans, and countless other areas. Government hostility toward faith-based education remains a persistent threat. That’s why each victory matters. Each case we win strengthens the legal precedent protecting religious liberty. Each time we hold government officials accountable, we demonstrate that constitutional rights cannot be bureaucratized away.

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