The Supreme Court is considering whether to relax its barriers to some public aid for parochial schools. Today's cases involve federally-funded remedial classes taught by public school teachers for low-income students, regardless of what schools they attend. Twelve years ago, the court ruled that, to maintain the separation of church and state, the classes for parochial school students had to be taught outside their school buildings. The classes often take place in mobile classrooms parked outside the schools. New York City is arguing that this system places an unfair financial burden on the city, and the Clinton administration is backing the city's position. The court's ruling might also have an impact on school prayer and tuition voucher cases. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.
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