A Washington school district will pay $275,000 and post a public apology after a judge found its rules burdened students’ religious expression and discriminated against a Bible program’s viewpoint.
Story Highlights
- Everett Public Schools settled a lawsuit with LifeWise Academy and a parent organizer.
- A federal judge said the district burdened religious expression and engaged in viewpoint discrimination.
- The district will apologize publicly, change policies, and fund religious liberty training.
- The settlement covers $275,000 in attorney fees; the district says it admits no wrongdoing.
Settlement Terms And Immediate Changes
Everett Public Schools approved a settlement that ends a federal lawsuit brought by LifeWise Academy and a local parent. The agreement requires the district to pay $275,000 in attorney fees, issue a public apology to families, and update policies that affected an off-campus Bible instruction program during school hours. The district stated its policies allow off-site religious instruction with parental permission and must not disrupt instruction, while also noting the settlement does not admit wrongdoing.
The district also agreed to provide religious liberty training for board members and key staff. The training aims to avoid future conflicts over student religious expression and equal access rules. The case centered on “released time” Bible classes run by LifeWise during the school day but off campus. Families argued the district imposed extra hurdles and stigma on students who chose the program, compared with similar nonreligious activities available to other students.
What The Court Said About The District’s Rules
In April 2026, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, finding that the district burdened the plaintiffs’ religious expression and engaged in viewpoint discrimination. The order said the district could not deny LifeWise the same access provided to comparable secular activities simply because LifeWise teaches from a religious viewpoint. The district’s own statement described practices such as having LifeWise students keep materials in sealed envelopes when returning to campus.
The preliminary findings did not end the case, but they set the legal stakes and likely shaped negotiations. Courts have long held that public schools may not favor or disfavor religion in access to neutral forums. When schools allow off-campus activities during the school day with parental consent, they must apply the same neutral rules to religious and nonreligious options. The injunction signaled the court believed the district’s limits crossed that line.
Why Released-Time Programs Are Lawful When Neutral
The Supreme Court has allowed off-campus religious instruction during school hours when parents consent and the school does not give special aid to the program. In Zorach v. Clauson, the Court upheld New York City’s released-time policy because instruction happened off school grounds and participation was voluntary. That ruling differs from McCollum, where classes occurred inside public schools using public resources, which the Court struck down years earlier.
Washington school district must apologize and pay $275,000 after forcing Christian students to seal their Bibles in envelopes.
⠀
Everett Public Schools settled a lawsuit brought by LifeWise Academy over an off-campus Bible education program that operates during release time… pic.twitter.com/AaP3gNuJmF— Blue Lives Matter (@bluelivesmtr) October 17, 2026
The Everett case fits that pattern. Parents opted in. Classes occurred off campus. The dispute was not over whether released time is legal, but whether the district imposed extra barriers and stigma because the program was religious. The court’s order and the settlement’s terms show the system must treat religious and nonreligious activities the same. The district’s apology and training are meant to reset that balance going forward.
Why This Matters To Families Across The Spectrum
Parents on both the right and left want schools that respect family choices, apply rules fairly, and focus on student learning. This case raised alarms because students were told to conceal materials and faced limits that a judge found targeted a viewpoint. Many see this as another sign that large systems often overreach, then spend public money to fix preventable mistakes. The settlement moves policy toward equal treatment while keeping classroom time orderly.
Sources:
lifesitenews.com, clevelandjewishnews.com, justthenews.com, pjmedia.com, wfmd.com
