Court Rejects Establishment Clause Challenge To School Program

In Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Cherry Creek School District, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76938 (D CO, Sept. 8, 2008), a Colorado federal district court rejected an Establishment Clause challenge to a school district program called "40 Developmental Assets." The program listed 40 positive factors that parents are encouraged to build in their children. Plaintiffs objected to one of the listed assets-- encouraging children to spend one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution. The court held that the overall program had a secular purpose and would not likely be perceived by non-religious parents as disapproving their beliefs. The court said that the program had to be considered as a whole, instead of dissecting out one of forty elements for separate examination. (See prior related posting.)