A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has paved the way for children across the United States to have more options regarding their education. 

The court struck down what were considered by many as discriminatory polices, otherwise known as Blaine Amendments, that some states used to ban student-aid programs for private – including religious – schools. The 5-4 ruling came in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue. 

The Supreme Court's decision reversed a 2018 Montana Supreme Court ruling that stopped Kendra Espinoza and other parents in the state from using a tax-credit program to help pay for tuition at the Stillwater Christian School. Even though Michigan students may not immediately reap the benefits of this ruling, the Rev. James J. Schiltz of Prince of Peace in Muskegon, was happy with the outcome.

The Rev. James J. Schiltz | https://princeofpeacenm.org/

"This ruling makes sense," he said. "More students is integral to the future of such schools," Schiltz said.

Michigan has one of the most renstrictive versions of such amendments in the country. The state prohibits any financial help for any independent school, whether it's affiliated with a certain religion or not. 

The Supreme Court's ruling found there is no constitutional law that would ban the use of government aid to help families pay for religious schools. As a result of the court's decision, Michigan lawmakers will likely have to look at this issue and what the ruling means for the state.