norwood harrison argued decided june district sustained validity mississippi statutory program begun textbooks purchased state lent students public private schools without reference whether participating private school racially discriminatory policies number private secular schools mississippi virtually student population greatly increased recent years held private schools right exist operate pierce society sisters state required equal protection clause provide assistance private schools equivalent provides public schools without regard whether private schools discriminate racial grounds pp free textbooks like tuition grants directed students private schools form tangible financial assistance benefiting schools state constitutional obligation requires avoid operating old dual system racially segregated schools also providing tangible aid schools practice racial invidious discrimination pp assistance carefully limited avoid prohibitions effect entanglement tests may confined secular functions sectarian schools substantially promote religious mission schools violation establishment clause case however legitimate educational function private discriminatory schools isolated alleged discriminatory practices discriminatory treatment exerts pervasive influence entire educational process brown board education establishment clause permits greater degree state assistance sectarian schools may given private schools engage discriminatory practices everson board education board education allen distinguished pp proper injunctive relief granted without implying private schools alleged receiving textbook aid restrictive admission policies district direct appellees submit approval certification procedure whereby schools may apply textbooks behalf pupils affirmatively declaring admission policies practices stating number racially religiously identifiable minority students relevant data certification eligibility subject judicial review pp burger delivered opinion stewart white marshall blackmun powell rehnquist joined douglas brennan concurred result melvyn leventhal argued cause appellants briefs jack greenberg james nabrit iii charles stephen ralston norman chachkin anthony amsterdam william allain first assistant attorney general mississippi argued cause appellees brief summer attorney general heber ladner special assistant attorney general solicitor general griswold assistant attorney general pottinger deputy solicitor general wallace harriet shapiro brian landsberg thomas keeling filed memorandum amicus curiae urging reversal chief justice burger delivered opinion district sustained validity mississippi statutory program textbooks purchased state lent students public private schools without reference whether participating private school racially discriminatory policies supp nd miss noted probable jurisdiction appellants parents four schoolchildren tunica county mississippi filed class action behalf students throughout mississippi enjoin part enforcement mississippi textbook lending program complaint alleged certain private schools excluded students basis race supplying textbooks students attending private schools appellees acting state provided direct state aid racially segregated education also alleged textbook aid program thereby impeded process fully desegregating public schools violation appellants constitutional rights private schools mississippi experienced marked growth recent years recently school year private schools catholic schools total enrollment students nonpublic schools students negro enrolled special schools retarded orphaned abandoned children september number private schools increased student population estimated virtually white appellees challenge statement fully documented appellants brief creation enlargement private academies occurred simultaneously major events desegregation public schools case raise question right citizens maintain private schools admission limited students particular national origins race religion authority state allow schools see pierce society sisters narrow issue us rather particular form tangible assistance state provides students private schools common students lending textbooks state program providing free textbooks children state program dates back appeal improved educational facilities governor mississippi state legislature legislature established state textbook purchasing board authorized select purchase distribute free textbooks schoolchildren first eight grades program extended cover high school students codified statutory authorization remains substantially unchanged miss code ann et seq administration textbook program vested mississippi textbook purchasing board whose members include governor state superintendent education three experienced educators appointed governor terms board employs administrator executive secretary textbooks may purchased use courses set state course study adopted state board education courses established special acts legislature course study rating committee composed appointed members books approved relevant rating committee may purchased publishers price higher lowest prices books sold anywhere books kept central book repository jackson appellees send school district recent years private school requisition forms listing approved textbooks available state free distribution students local school district private school sends requisition form purchasing board approval executive secretary turn forwards approved form jackson book repository order routinely filled requested books shipped directly school district private school district found students presently receiving textbooks attending nonsectarian private schools formed throughout state since inception public school desegregation school year schools held books mississippi paid annual expenditure replacements new texts approximately per pupil total approximately students enrolled participating private segregated academies exclusive mailing costs borne state well dismissing complaint district stressed first statutory scheme motivated desire racial segregation public schools enacted first long decision brown board education consequently long occasion policy reason foster development racially segregated private academies second district took note providing textbooks private sectarian schools approved board education allen essential inquiry therefore whether apply stringent standard determining constitutes state aid school context fourteenth amendment ban denial equal protection law applied first amendment cases district held stringent standard apply facts case since allen books provided students schools finally district concluded textbook loans interfere impede state acknowledged duty establish unitary school system holding green county school board since epriving segment school children textbooks point time necessary establishment maintenance unitary schools indeed public schools plaintiffs acknowledge fully established unitary schools throughout state later continue attract state educable children showing child enrolled private school deprived free textbooks withdraw private school subsequently enroll public schools ii pierce society sisters held state role education citizens must yield right parents provide equivalent education children privately operated school parents choice term reaffirmed vitality pierce wisconsin yoder suggestion present case alter view pierce yet holding pierce without limits justice white observed concurring opinion yoder pierce held simply state may posit educational standards may educational process requiring children attend public schools appellees fail recognize limited scope pierce urge right parents send children private schools holding stake case suggestion made rights parents pierce undermined lending free textbooks denied attend private schools words schoolchildren attend private schools might deprived equal protection laws invidiously classified state textbook loan program simply parents exercised constitutionally protected choice send children private schools see issue appellees terms pierce affirmed right private schools exist operate said nothing supposed right private parochial schools share public schools state largesse equal basis otherwise never held private schools given share public funds allocated education schools isolated classification violative equal protection clause one thing say state may prohibit maintenance private schools quite another say schools must matter equal protection receive state aid appellees intimate state must provide assistance private schools equivalent provides public schools without regard whether private schools discriminate racial grounds clearly state need even schools whose policies nondiscriminatory absolute right equal aid negated least implication lemon kurtzman religion clauses first amendment strictly confine state aid sectarian education even assuming therefore equal protection clause might require state aid granted private nonsectarian schools circumstances health care textbooks example state rationally conclude matter legislative policy constitutional neutrality sectarian schools might best achieved withholding state assistance see san antonio independent school district rodriguez way state special interest elevating quality education public private schools mean state must grant aid private schools without regard constitutionally mandated standards forbidding discrimination constitution may compel toleration private discrimination circumstances mean requires state support discrimination iii district holding therefore raises question whether terms state may matter legislative policy provide tangible assistance students attending private schools appellants asserts private schools fact racially discriminatory also aid form derogation state obligation support discrimination education consistently affirmed decisions enjoining state tuition grants students attending racially discriminatory private schools textbook lending program legally distinguishable forms state assistance foreclosed prior cases free textbooks like tuition grants directed private school students form financial assistance inuring benefit private schools inescapable educational cost students public private schools expense providing necessary learning materials necessary expense borne state economic consequence give aid enterprise school engages discriminatory practices state tangible aid form textbooks thereby gives support discrimination racial discrimination schools barred constitution also axiomatic state may induce encourage promote private persons accomplish constitutionally forbidden accomplish lee macon county board education supp md suggest state violates constitutional duty merely provided form state service benefits private schools said racially discriminatory textbooks basic educational tool like tuition grants provided connection schools distinguished generalized services government might provide schools common others moreover textbooks provided private school students state case form assistance readily available sources entirely independent state unlike example necessities life electricity water police fire protection moose lodge irvis state neither absolute operating monopoly procurement school textbooks anyone purchase open market district laid great stress absence showing appellants child enrolled private school deprived free textbooks withdraw private school subsequently enroll public schools accept factual assertion know record least whether state textbook assistance determinative factor enrollment students private schools mississippi agree district analysis legal consequences uncertainty constitution permit state aid discrimination even precise causal relationship state financial aid private school continued school state may grant type tangible financial aid involved aid significant tendency facilitate reinforce support private discrimination ecisions constitutionality state involvement private discrimination turn whether state aid adds percent adds per cent support segregated institution poindexter louisiana financial assistance supp ed la recurring theme appellees argument sympathetic one state textbook loan program extended students attend racially segregated private schools state sincerely wishes foster quality education mississippi children end taken steps insure schoolchildren deprived important educational tool merely parents chosen enroll segregated private schools need assume state textbook aid private schools motivated sincere interest educational welfare mississippi children good intentions one valid objective serve negate state involvement violation constitutional duty existence permissible purpose sustain action impermissible effect wright council city emporia equal protection clause sterile promise state involvement possible private activity shielded altogether constitutional scrutiny simply ultimate end discrimination higher goal district offered support holding finding mississippi public schools fully established unitary schools throughout state later continue attract state educable children note however overall attendance figures fully accurately reflect impact private schools particular school districts event constitutional infirmity mississippi textbook program significantly aids organization continuation separate system private schools district holding may discriminate desire state constitutional obligation requires steer clear operating old dual system racially segregated schools also giving significant aid institutions practice racial invidious discrimination state public schools fully unitary district found irrelevant iv appellees district also placed great reliance decisions everson board education board education allen everson held establishment clause first amendment prohibit new jersey spending funds pay bus fares parochial school pupils part general program pays fares pupils attending public schools allen following everson sustained new york law requiring school textbooks lent free charge students including attendance parochial schools specified grades neither allen everson dispositive issue us case religious schools pursue two goals religious instruction secular education board education allen supra carefully limited avoid prohibitions effect entanglement tests may assist schools performing secular functions committee public education nyquist post levitt committee public education post substantial interest quality education provided private schools see cochran louisiana board education importantly assistance properly confined secular functions sectarian schools substantially promote readily identifiable religious mission schools interfere free exercise rights others like sectarian school private school even one discriminates fulfills important educational function however difference context case legitimate educational function isolated discriminatory practices fact exist brown board education discriminatory treatment exerts pervasive influence entire educational process private school closes doors defined groups students basis constitutionally suspect criteria manifests actions educational processes based private belief segregation desirable education reason discriminate students reasons wholly unrelated individual merit unless artificial barriers considered essential part educational message communicated students admitted private bias barred constitution invoke sanction laws neither call constitution material aid state decisions establishment clause reflect internal tension first amendment establishment clause free exercise clause tilton richardson mean already suggested state constitutionally obligated provide even neutral services sectarian schools transcendent value free religious exercise constitutional scheme leaves room play joints extent cautiously delineated secular governmental assistance religious schools despite fact assistance touches conflicting values establishment clause indirectly benefiting religious schools sponsors contrast although constitution proscribe private bias places value discrimination values inherent free exercise clause invidious private discrimination may characterized form exercising freedom association protected first amendment never accorded affirmative constitutional protections even private discrimination subject special remedial legislation certain circumstances thirteenth amendment congress made discrimination unlawful significant contexts however narrow may channel permissible state aid sectarian schools nyquist supra levitt supra permits greater degree state assistance may given private schools engage discriminatory practices unlawful public school system oral argument appellees expressed concern process determining scope relief granted appellants prevail merits aspect case presents problems procedural details need fully resolved district assumption textbook loans permissible even racially discriminating private schools obviated necessity determine whether private schools properly classified racially discriminatory determination might best made construe complaint contemplating individual determination private school mississippi whose students receive textbooks state textbook loan program relief assumption private schools discriminating thus foreclosing individualized consideration appropriate proper injunctive relief granted without implying finding private schools alleged receiving textbook aid fact practicing restrictive admission policies private schools fungible fact even may practice discrimination warrant blanket condemnation district appropriately direct appellees submit approval certification procedure school seeking textbooks pupils may apply participation behalf pupils certification school mississippi textbook purchasing board among factors affirmatively declare admission policies practices state number racially religiously identifiable minority students relevant data consistent opinion state certification eligibility course subject judicial review determination may cumbersome state process ascertaining compliance educational standards presumptions flow mere allegations one required consistent due process prove absence violation law judgment district vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes brief appellants see norwood harrison supp nd miss regulation distribution textbooks provided follows distribution free textbooks local control placed hands county superintendent education requisitions books shall made shipments books shall invoiced discretion may set certain regulations governing distribution books within county regulations conflict regulations adopted state textbook board provisions free textbook act regulation revised october read follows public schools administration textbook program public schools shall responsibility administrative heads county units consolidated districts municipal separate districts set legislature textbook transactions public schools state shall carried shall duty local custodians render reports required state place orders textbooks pupils schools private schools private parochial school programs shall responsibility state textbook board textbook transactions carried board administrative heads schools duties shall outlined public schools variation figures schools students accounted district omission particular kinds schools making findings earlier higher figures found briefs disputed brown south carolina board education supp sc aff per curiam poindexter louisiana financial assistance supp ed la aff per curiam see wallace lee macon county board education supp md mississippi tuition grant programs invalidated coffey state educational finance supp sd miss coffey state educational finance sd ca decided unreported latter case involved statute provided tuition loans rather tuition grants see green connally supp dc aff sub nom coit green appellees misperceive child benefit theory cases decided religion clauses first amendment see cochran louisiana board education board education allen cases observed direct financial benefit textbook loans students parents children schools sense parents children schools instances required procure textbooks state never denied free books make likely children choose attend sectarian schools cases involving aid sectarian schools acknowledged various forms state assistance surely aid religious institutions sense religious bodies otherwise forced find sources finance services tilton richardson plainly religion benefits indirectly governmental aid parents children nevertheless hat religion may indirectly benefit governmental aid convert aid impermissible establishment religion lemon kurtzman opinion white leeway indirect aid sectarian schools place defining permissible scope state aid private racially discriminatory schools state support segregated schools arrangement management funds property squared fourteenth amendment command state shall deny person within jurisdiction equal protection laws cooper aaron thus justice white author opinion allen supra dissenter lemon kurtzman supra noted view legislation providing assistance sectarian school restricted entry racial religious grounds extent unconstitutional lemon supra see part iv infra accord griffin state board education supp ed superseding griffin state board education supp ed brown south carolina board education supra tunica county example appellants reside response green connally supra alexander holmes county board education white children withdrawn public schools placed private academy housed local church facilities staffed principal high school teachers county system resigned accept jobs new academy see tunica county school district supp nd miss aff time filing lawsuit successor tunica institute learning enrolled students white attest open enrollment policy similar histories holmes county canton municipal separate school district jackson municipal separate school district amite county indianola municipal separate school district grenada municipal separate school district recited without challenge appellees brief appellants see griffin breckenridge jones alfred mayer et seq barring discrimination public accommodations et seq barring discrimination private employment et seq barring discrimination private housing transactions