Consent Decree Bars Louisiana School District's Promotion of Religion

The ACLU announced on Friday the entry of a consent decree (full text) in Lane v. Sabine Parish School Board, (WD LA, March 14, 2014), enjoining the blatant promotion of Christianity (and harassment of a Buddhist student) that had been taking place in the Negreet, Louisiana schools. (See prior posting.) The detailed 11-page decree decree enjoins school officials from promoting prayer at school events, funding or sponsoring religious services, holding school events at religious venues when other locations are available, promoting personal religious beliefs to students in school or at school events, denigrating a particular religious faith or singling a student out for criticism because of his or her religious beliefs. It also puts strict limits on the distribution of material in schools by outside groups.

Suit Challenges School Ban On Student Distribution of Religious Material

In Kansas last week, a federal lawsuit was filed challenging school district rules that permit students to post information and hand out flyers during non-instructional time, except for religious material. The complaint (full text) in K.R. v. Unified School District No. 34,(D KS, filed 11/26/2013), alleges that plaintiff, a 7th grader, was prevented by the policy from distributing flyers promoting a "See You At The Pole" prayer event, in violation of her 1st and 14th Amendment rights. ADF issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.