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Americans United For Separation Of Church And State And ACLU File Brief Objecting To Government Promotion of Prayer In Texas' "Moment Of Silence" Law (06/09/2008)
NEW ORLEANS - Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas submitted a friend-of-the-court brief today to a federal appeals court urging the court to rule against a religiously motivated 2003 amendment to Texas' "Moment of Silence" statute. The amendment added "pray" to the statute's list of activities for students during the moment of silence.

Preferential Treatment of Praying Parents is Ruled Unconstitutional (05/30/2008)
NASHVILLE – School officials at a Tennessee school district and elementary school violated the Constitution by encouraging a variety of religious activities to occur at the school, Judge Robert Echols of the United States District Court of Middle Tennessee ruled on Thursday.

Court Agrees Public Schools Cannot Hand Out Bibles to Students (04/22/2008)
NEW ORLEANS - Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana ruled against a public school in Tangipahoa Parish that handed out Bibles to 5th-graders, saying the school infringed students' religious freedom. On May 9, 2007, the principal at Loranger Middle School invited the Gideon group into the school to distribute Bibles. Students were pulled out of class, brought outside of the principal's office and put in a line to receive Bibles.

Texas School Board Agrees To Stop Teaching Unconstitutional Bible Class In Public Schools (03/05/2008)
ODESSA, TX – The Ector County School Board agreed today to stop teaching a course in its public schools that unconstitutionally promotes a particular interpretation of the Bible that is not shared by Jews, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and most Protestants.

Vidor School District Makes Pledge of Allegiance Optional After ACLU Challenge (01/23/2008)
AUSTIN, TX - The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas applauded the Vidor Independent School District (VISD) Board of Directors today for revising district policy to protect students’ right to decide for themselves whether to participate in the pledge of allegiance. The new policy, which went into effect immediately, provides students the daily “opportunity to stand and recite the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.”

ACLU Applauds Removal of Unconstitutional "Creation Science" Earmark from Appropriations Bill (10/18/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union, alongside 33 other religious, civil rights, education, science and advocacy organizations celebrated today as Senator David Vitter (R-LA) withdrew an unconstitutional earmark that would have funded the teaching of creationism in public school science classes. The earmark was added on to the Fiscal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill’s Committee Report.

Broward County School Board is "Keeping Things Kosher" at Ben Gamla Charter School (09/12/2007)
HOLLYWOOD, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida praises the Broward County School Board for taking the appropriate steps to ensure adequate oversight for the new school, Ben Gamla Charter School in Hollywood, FL. Dubbed "America's First English-Hebrew Charter School," Ben Gamla has been in the hot seat due to concerns about potential First Amendment violations regarding the curriculum, which includes Hebrew language.

Tangipahoa Parish School Officials Endorse Teacher's Graduation Prayer in Defiance of Supreme Court Decision (06/06/2007)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana today filed a case against the Tangipahoa Parish School Board because of an official prayer by a teacher at a graduation ceremony. The legal action, on behalf of a parent and his two children who attend Tangipahoa public schools, represents a record sixth court case by the ACLU against the same district for government-endorsed religious activities over the past 13 years.

Texas Parents Challenge Unconstitutional Bible Class in Public Schools (05/16/2007)
ODESSA, TX - The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, People For the American Way Foundation, and the law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP filed a federal lawsuit today in the Western District of Texas on behalf of eight parents who say that the Bible course offered in their local high schools violates their religious liberty by promoting particular religious beliefs to children in their community. Some of the parents have children who have graduated from these high schools and some have children who will soon enter them. The case was filed against the Ector County Independent School District Board of Trustees and eight of its members and officials.

ACLU Applauds Congress’ Vote For Religious Freedom (05/02/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today praised the House for standing for religious freedom during its vote of HR 1429, the “Improving Head Start Act of 2007.” The body rejected a motion that would have removed longstanding civil rights protections prohibiting the hiring of teachers, staff and volunteers based on religion in Head Start programs. The provision failed by a vote of 195 to 222.

ACLU Praises Committee’s Vote For Religious Freedom, Head Start Will Continue to Hire Teachers Based on Qualifications not on Religious Beliefs (03/14/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today praised the House Education and Labor Committee for standing for religious freedom during its mark up of HR 1429, the “Improving Head Start Act of 2007.” The committee rejected an amendment to the bill that would have removed longstanding civil rights protections prohibiting the hiring of teachers, staff and volunteers based on religion in Head Start programs. The provision failed by a vote of 24 to 13.

ACLU of New Jersey Sues Newark Public Schools for Holding Graduation in Church (03/07/2007)
NEWARK - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey filed a lawsuit today against the Newark Public Schools for violating a Muslim student's religious freedom by holding West Side High School's 2006 graduation ceremony in the sanctuary of a Baptist church.

ACLU of North Carolina to Investigate Reports of Anti-Muslim Proselytizing to High School Students (02/27/2007)
RALEIGH, NC - The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina today announced that it is expanding its investigation into reports of longstanding, anti-Muslim proselytizing to students at Enloe High School in Raleigh. Expressing deep concern about the dismissive manner in which the school has handled this matter, the ACLU of North Carolina invited parents and students to contact the organization with information about proselytizing at Enloe High School on February 15, 2007 or any time prior.

ACLU of New Jersey Applauds Ruling in Favor of Student's Right to Sing "Awesome God" (12/12/2006)
NEWARK, NJ - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today praised a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Freda L. Wolfson protecting the religious expression rights of students. The court held that a Frenchtown Elementary School student had the right to sing the song "Awesome God" at a school talent show. The ACLU of New Jersey submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the student.

ACLU of Tennessee Fights for Religious Freedom in Wilson County Public School (09/27/2006)
NASHVILLE - Acting on behalf of a Wilson County family, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee today asked a federal court to end practices by teachers and other officials that put pressure on students to engage in religious activities at Lakeview Elementary School.

Three Muslim Football Players Sue New Mexico University Over Religious Discrimination (08/28/2006)
LAS CRUCES, NM - In a lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, three Muslim athletes accused New Mexico State University head football coach Hal Mumme of discharging them from the school’s football team in 2005 because of their religious beliefs. The lawsuit charges Mumme, university provost William Flores and the university Board of Regents with religious discrimination and violations of the athletes’ right to freely exercise their religion.

ACLU of West Virginia and Americans United Seek Removal of High School Portrait of Jesus (06/28/2006)
CHARLESTON, WV - The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia and Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked a court to order the removal of a large portrait of Jesus prominently displayed outside the principal's office at Bridgeport High School, saying that the display is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

ACLU of New Jersey Defends Second-Grader's Right to Sing Religious Song (06/05/2006)
NEWARK, NJ - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case seeking to uphold an elementary school student's right to religious expression.

Federal Judge Rules Against School-Mandated Prayer at Kentucky High School Graduation Ceremony (05/19/2006)
LOUISVILLE, KY – The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky announced today that U.S. District Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent Russell County High School from including prayer during its graduation ceremony tonight.

Maine High Court Upholds School Tuition Program (04/26/2006)
PORTLAND, ME -- In a 6-to-1 decision, the Maine Supreme Court today ruled that the state is not required to fund religious education with taxpayer money.