New York Fined Amish Schools Over Vaccination Law
Three private schools were penalized $118,000 for failing to meet state vaccination requirements for students.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Homeschooling
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In 2022, New York officials fined three Amish schools a total of $118,000 after an audit revealed students were not in compliance with state immunization laws. The penalties followed the state's 2019 repeal of religious exemptions for childhood vaccinations.
Why it matters
New York eliminated religious exemptions for student vaccinations following significant measles outbreaks that occurred across the state in 2018 and 2019. The resulting legal tension has sparked an ongoing challenge to state mandates on the basis of religious freedom.
State authorities assessed fines totaling $118,000, which included specific penalties of $52,000, $46,000, and $20,000 for three separate institutions. These penalties were applied after an audit identified students missing required vaccinations.
The players
New York Department of Health
This state agency is responsible for overseeing public health policies, including the enforcement of immunization laws within educational institutions.
U.S. Supreme Court
This is the highest federal court in the United States, currently tasked with considering an appeal regarding the constitutionality of New York's vaccination law.
The details
The state enforces vaccination mandates by notifying school administrators of potential fines, which accrue at $2,000 per student for every day they remain noncompliant. These three schools collectively reported noncompliance involving 50 students, leading to the regulatory action taken by state health officials.
Timeline
Measles outbreaks affected New York communities during 2018 and 2019.
New York repealed the religious exemption for school vaccinations in 2019.
The New York Department of Health audited the schools for compliance in 2021.
The state issued a total of $118,000 in fines to the three schools in 2022.
Legal representatives filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on October 2, 2026.
Culture Shift
The enforcement of this mandate marks a significant departure from the historical allowance of religious exemptions in New York schools. This policy update reflects a broader societal trend of prioritizing public health mandates over traditional religious exemptions in the wake of infectious disease outbreaks.
These regulations require families in New York to ensure their children meet immunization standards to remain in private schools without incurring daily financial penalties. Failure to adhere to these state requirements can lead to substantial fines for private educational institutions.
The takeaway
The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexity of balancing state-led public health initiatives with religious freedom claims in private schooling. Families navigating this landscape should stay informed about state compliance requirements to avoid similar financial penalties for their schools.
Further reading
For more on the regulatory environment for private education, visit the Homeschooling section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Snopes.
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