In its decision, the Court described the Cleveland program as "...a government aid program... not readily subject to challenge under the Establishment Clause if it is neutral with respect to religion and provides assistance directly to a broad class of citizens who, in turn, direct government aid to religious schools wholly as a result of their own genuine and independent private choice."

In a statement concerning the decision, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige commented: "Today's historic Supreme Court decision is one for America's children. It's one that can transform the education landscape in our country. The decision lifts the constitutional cloud that has been hanging over school-choice programs for years and will open the doors of opportunity to thousands of children who need and deserve the best possible education."

In response to the Court's ruling, Joe McTighe, Executive Director of the Council for American Private Education declared: "Poor and minority children have been promised equal educational opportunity for decades. But time and again that promise has been broken. Today's decision offers new hope. States can now make good on the promise by providing poor children the same chance that other children have: the chance to attend a school that works, whether public or private." Read the entire statement.