Religion and Public Schools
Tamer Mahmoud v. Monifa McKnight
On October 30, 2023, the ACLU and ACLU of Maryland filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit supporting the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in its efforts to ensure that its English curriculum is LGBTQ-inclusive.
Status: Ongoing
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All Cases
18 Religion and Public Schools Cases
U.S. Supreme Court
Feb 2020
![Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel
Whether certain teachers at religious schools are covered by the “ministerial exception,” which gives religious institutions the constitutional authority to discriminate in the selection of faith leaders.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religion and Public Schools
Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel
Whether certain teachers at religious schools are covered by the “ministerial exception,” which gives religious institutions the constitutional authority to discriminate in the selection of faith leaders.
Feb 2020
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2019
![Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Whether the U.S. Constitution forces states to fund religious education in violation of longstanding state constitutional rules barring taxpayer support for religious activities.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Religion and Public Schools
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Whether the U.S. Constitution forces states to fund religious education in violation of longstanding state constitutional rules barring taxpayer support for religious activities.
Nov 2019
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Jun 2018
![FFRF v. Concord Community Schools](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
FFRF v. Concord Community Schools
In October 2015, the ACLU, ACLU of Indiana, and Freedom From Religion Foundation represented a student and his father in a constitutional challenge to an Indiana public school’s annual “Christmas Spectacular.”
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![FFRF v. Concord Community Schools](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religion and Public Schools
FFRF v. Concord Community Schools
In October 2015, the ACLU, ACLU of Indiana, and Freedom From Religion Foundation represented a student and his father in a constitutional challenge to an Indiana public school’s annual “Christmas Spectacular.”
Jun 2018
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Dec 2017
![Cole v. Webster Parish School Board](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Cole v. Webster Parish School Board
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana are challenging the Webster Parish School District’s widespread practice of subjecting students to school-sponsored Christian prayer, proselytizing, and other religious rituals. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christy Cole, a parent of a Webster Parish student, and her daughter, K.C., who attends Lakeside Junior and Senior High in Sibley.
Status: Ongoing
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![Cole v. Webster Parish School Board](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Religion and Public Schools
Cole v. Webster Parish School Board
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana are challenging the Webster Parish School District’s widespread practice of subjecting students to school-sponsored Christian prayer, proselytizing, and other religious rituals. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Christy Cole, a parent of a Webster Parish student, and her daughter, K.C., who attends Lakeside Junior and Senior High in Sibley.
Dec 2017
Status: Ongoing
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Louisiana
Mar 2014
![Lane v. Sabine Parish School Board](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Lane v. Sabine Parish School Board
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana have filed a federal lawsuit against a public school in Sabine Parish that harassed a non-Christian student and has a long history of proselytizing students and promoting religion. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two parents, Scott and Sharon Lane, and their three children, including their son, C.C., who is a Buddhist of Thai heritage.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Lane v. Sabine Parish School Board](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Louisiana
Religion and Public Schools
Lane v. Sabine Parish School Board
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Louisiana have filed a federal lawsuit against a public school in Sabine Parish that harassed a non-Christian student and has a long history of proselytizing students and promoting religion. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two parents, Scott and Sharon Lane, and their three children, including their son, C.C., who is a Buddhist of Thai heritage.
Mar 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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