Quechee School Wins $566K in Vermont Athletics Dispute

Mid Vermont Christian School, a pre-K through 12th grade private institution in Quechee, was banned from all state high school sports in 2023 after its girls varsity basketball team forfeited a playoff game against Long Trail School in Dorset rather than compete against a team with a transgender athlete on the roster. The Vermont Principals' Association said the school violated its nondiscrimination and gender identity policies by refusing to play.

The school, represented by the conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, challenged the expulsion in federal court. A U.S. District Court judge initially sided with the principals' association in June 2024, ruling the school's ban was based on policy violation, not religious discrimination. But a federal appeals court overturned that decision last September, finding the school must be allowed to compete. Following that ruling, Mid Vermont Christian returned to state athletic competitions.

With the federal court's September decision essentially ending the principals' association's ability to enforce the ban, both sides agreed to resolve the case before further proceedings. Vermont Principals' Association lawyer Steven Zakrzewski said the decision to settle was "based primarily on the costs and burdens imposed by ongoing litigation," while emphasizing the organization "denies any wrongdoing." Executive Director Jay Nichols said the school is now "permanently back in the game." The settlement was finalized this week.

Alliance Defending Freedom characterized the $566,000 payment—covering damages and attorney fees—as a "favorable partial settlement," noting the lawsuit also names the Agency of Education as a defendant. The group has separately amended its lawsuit to challenge Vermont's Act 73 education reform law, claiming it discriminates against religious schools by excluding them from the state's tuitioning program.