A Louisiana law adds rules to private school pre-K programs. Two schools filed suit to overturn it.

Two Christian schools have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana's new law that imposes sweeping regulations on private pre-kindergarten programs, arguing that the law unconstitutionally disadvantages religious schools.

Act 409 sets new minimum safety standards for all preschools and requires pre-K programs at private schools to obtain a daycare center license, subjecting the schools to dozens of additional regulations, site inspections and staff background checks. While the safety standards apply to all schools with pre-K programs, public schools and Montessori schools are exempt from the licensing requirement.

Proponents of the law, which took effect in August, have celebrated it as a win for child safety and school accountability. But critics call the regulations excessive