Parents File Discrimination Lawsuit Against California Schools For Banning Faith-Based Curricula

Citing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year for religious education in public schools, First Liberty Institute has filed a discrimination lawsuit against two California charter schools for banning faith-based curricula.

According to the lawsuit, a group of five parents enrolled their children in tuition-free charter schools—Blue Ridge Academy in Southern California and Visions of Education in Northern California—that facilitate “independent study” curated by parents in a homeschooling environment.

The schools promote their commitment to “individualized and inclusive learning” through these programs, but with one “glaring exception”—faith-based learning material, the lawsuit states. The Woolard, Gonzales and Dodson families, according to the suit, wanted to use high-quality curricula that comported with state standards and that also reflected a faith-based worldview, but were denied. One family was even expelled. 

“Our clients simply want to be able to choose curricula that fits their families’ needs without facing religious discrimination,” Justin Butterfield, deputy general counsel for First Liberty, said. “These families love their charter schools and the opportunities those schools provide for families to educate their children in a way that fits the families’ needs.” 

But school officials have cited a state law that prohibits the teaching of “sectarian and denominational doctrine” to deny academic credit and reject sample work from the students from any faith-based curricula or any that reflect religious perspectives.