Legal Definitions - student-benefit theory

Student-benefit theory is a principle that allows state funds to be given to private-school students if it can be justified as benefiting the child. This means that if a program or service is provided to all students, including those in private schools, and it benefits the child, then state funds can be used to pay for it.

For example, in Louisiana, a law was passed that allowed the purchase of textbooks for all children in the state, including those in private schools, under the student-benefit theory. The Supreme Court upheld this law in Cochran v. Louisiana State Bd. of Educ. in 1930.

This theory is also known as the child-benefit theory.

Overall, the student-benefit theory allows for state funds to be used to benefit all students, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools, as long as the program or service benefits the child.