Mid Vermont Christian School receives $566,000 settlement after two-year ban
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 4
Mid Vermont Christian School receives $566,000 settlement after two-year ban
11 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 4
The Vermont Principals’ Association paid damages and legal fees after banning the school from state-run sports and scholastic events following its 2023 girls basketball forfeit.
The dispute began when Mid Vermont withdrew from a postseason game against a team with a transgender athlete, saying participation conflicted with its religious beliefs and raised fairness and safety concerns.
A federal appeals court in 2025 said the school was likely to show religious hostility in the expulsion, but the settlement does not restore missed tournaments and other competitions.
After a school's $566k victory, how will the Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on trans athletes change school sports?
With the Olympics banning trans athletes, are US school sports facing an inevitable policy reversal on inclusion?
Landmark $566,000 Settlement Upholds MVCS Religious Rights Amid Transgender Sports Controversy
Overview
In February 2023, Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) forfeited a girls' basketball game due to religious objections to competing against a transgender athlete, leading the Vermont Principals' Association (VPA) to expel the school from all state-sponsored activities. MVCS filed a federal lawsuit, which initially upheld the expulsion, but in September 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned this decision, finding the VPA's actions hostile to MVCS's religious beliefs and ordering immediate reinstatement. In March 2026, the VPA settled for $566,000, including protections allowing MVCS to forfeit future games without penalty. This case sparked significant policy shifts in Vermont and became a national reference point in the ongoing debate over religious freedom and transgender inclusion in education.