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School-Sponsored Prayers at VA Military Institute Wrongly Entangle Government and Religion, Court Declares (01/24/2002)
LYNCHBURG, VA--A federal court judge in Lynchburg ruled today that school-sponsored prayers at the Virginia Military Institute are unconstitutional because they allow government to ""become impermissibly entangled with religion.""

In Victory for Religious Liberty, Unanimous Appeals Court Finds LA's School Prayer Law Unconstitutional (12/12/2001)
NEW ORLEANS--In a victory for religious liberty, a federal appeals court today said that a Louisiana law authorizing ""spoken prayer"" at public school-sponsored events, including in the classroom, was unconstitutional. 

ACLU of Nebraska Sues Over Graduation Prayer; Family That Complained Fears Retaliation (11/29/2001)
LINCOLN, NE--Saying that school-sponsored prayer unconstitutionally entangles government with religion and divides communities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska today filed a federal lawsuit against a local school that allowed an official to say a prayer at graduation ceremonies. 

U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Strike Down Virginia's "Minute of Silence" Law (08/31/2001)
WASHINGTON--Acting on behalf of seven public school students and their parents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state's mandatory "minute of silence" law, saying it violates the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. 

White House Faith-Based Report Should Have Reflected Lack of Support in Religious Community, ACLU Says (08/04/2001)
WASHINGTON - With the release of a White House report this afternoon on barriers to federal funding for religious organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union pointed once again to comments solicited by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from religious and community organizations that show no real need for President Bush's faith-based plan. 

ACLU, Other Civil Rights Groups Oppose Government-Funded Religion, Call Faith-Based Bill Dangerous Civil Rights Threat Statement of Laura W. Murphy (07/17/2001)
WASHINGTON - I am delighted to join my colleagues in the civil rights community and the distinguished leaders of Congressional Black Caucus this morning to express our broad and resolute opposition to the President Bush's initiative for government-funded discrimination in social services. 

ACLU Denounces Voucher, Block Grant Schemes; Says Congress Should Reject Divisive Amendments (05/21/2001)
WASHINGTON - With debate heating up this week in Congress over President George W. Bush's proposed education plan, the American Civil Liberties Union today applauded efforts to increase funding to America's public schools but cautioned that any attempt to include voucher or block grant schemes designed to funnel public funds to private or religious schools would invariably have counter-productive and divisive effects. 

ACLU of Illinois Hails Judge's Decision Blocking School-Sanctioned Prayer at Graduation Ceremony (05/17/2001)
CHICAGO--The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today welcomed action by U.S. District Court Judge Joe Billy McDade to block school sanctioned prayers at this weekend's graduation ceremony at Washington Community High School. 

School Valedictorian and Her Parents File Federal Lawsuit Challenging School Sanctioned Prayers at Graduation Ceremony (05/16/2001)
CHICAGO--Acting on behalf of the valedictorian for the 2001 graduating class at Washington Community High School and her parents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois filed a federal lawsuit in Peoria today asking a federal judge to block school sanctioned prayers at this Sunday's graduation ceremony. 

ACLU of Illinois Asks School Officials to End Divisive Prayers at Graduation Ceremony (05/14/2001)
CHICAGO--Calling on officials at Washington Community High School to demonstrate respect and tolerance for the religious freedom of all students, the American Civil Liberties Union today asked the Superintendent at the school to cancel plans to include an invocation and benediction at their graduation ceremony on May 20, 2001. 

Creationism, With New Name, Is Taught in Schools (05/07/2001)
TACOMA, WA -- The debate over the teaching of creationism in public schools is raging across the country, but proponents of creationism have given it a new name -- intelligent design -- the Tacoma News Tribune reported. 

Eleven-Year-Old Muslim Girl Harassed After Declining Bible From School Principal, ACLU of LA Charges (04/10/2001)
ALEXANDRIA, LA-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed a lawsuit here today on behalf of an 11-year-old Muslim girl who was humiliated when she refused to accept a Bible handed out by her public school principal. Later, a teacher forced her to participate in a classroom quiz game about Jesus. 

ACLU of Nebraska Files Complaint Against School Official Who Lead Prayers at Assembly (03/21/2001)
LINCOLN, NE - The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska today filed a civil rights complaint with the State Department of Education, charging that the superintendent of the Petersburg School District violated the rights of students by initiating a public prayer at a student assembly. 

Supreme Court Hears Arguments Today In After-School Evangelism Case (02/28/2001)
WASHINGTON--In the first key church-state case to come before the Supreme Court since a landmark religious liberties ruling last year, the Justices today will consider whether a public school properly excluded an outside religious club that wanted to use school facilities just minutes after the conclusion of the school day.

ACLU Applauds Call For Additional Money for Public Schools, Calls President's Voucher Proposals Divisive (01/23/2001)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded President George W. Bush for his proposal to add significant new resources to the nation's public schools, but said that his plan to use vouchers to divert tax money to private schools threatened to destroy any beneficial elements of his plan. 

ACLU Hails Victory as Federal Appeals Court Declares Cleveland School Vouchers Unconstitutional (12/11/2000)
CLEVELAND, OH-- A federal appeals court held today that Cleveland's school voucher program is unconstitutional, in a decision the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio hailed as a hard-fought victory for the First Amendment.

Court Rejects Cleveland School Voucher Program (12/11/2000)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - A federal appeals court today ruled that a four-year old Cleveland school voucher program violated the Constitution's separation of church and state.

ACLU of Michigan Celebrates Sound Defeat of Voucher Program (11/08/2000)
DETROIT -- An effort to amend the Michigan Constitution to allow the use of public tax dollars for private and religious school tuition ended in a resounding defeat yesterday in our statewide election. 

ACLU Supports Parents in Demanding that Coach Stop Leading Prayer Before Football Games (10/30/2000)
DETROIT, MI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today sent a letter to Melvindale School District officials urging an end to faculty-led religious prayer prior to high school football games.

ACLU of Oklahoma Files Federal Lawsuit on Behalf of Student Accused of "Hexing" a Teacher (10/26/2000)
TULSA, OK--In a case reminiscent of the Salem Witch trials, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma today filed a federal lawsuit charging that school officials violated 15-year-old Brandi Blackbear's rights when they accused her of casting a hex that resulted in a teacher's illness.