Wolman v. Walter

Summary

The Court upheld Ohio's provision of secular textbooks, standardized testing, diagnostic services, and therapeutic or remedial services to pupils in nonpublic schools, but invalidated aid for instructional materials and equipment and transportation for field trips. Applying the Establishment Clause framework, the Court distinguished neutral health and testing services from aid that substantially supports the integrated educational mission of sectarian schools or is controlled by sectarian educators. Several Justices separately concurred in part and dissented in part; Justice Brennan would have invalidated the entire program, Justice Marshall would have invalidated additional educational services and textbooks, Justice Powell would have upheld field-trip transportation, and Justice Stevens would have rejected most of the distinctions drawn by the Court.