Suit was filed yesterday in an Arizona federal district court by a Christian university alleging that a public school district violated free exercise, free speech and other federal constitutional provisions as well as Arizona law when it terminated the student teacher agreement between the university and the school district. The complaint (full text) in Arizona Christian University v. Washington Elementary School District No. 6, (D AZ, riled 3/9/2023) alleges in part:
For the last eleven years, Arizona Christian and Washington Elementary School District, the largest elementary school district in Arizona, had a mutually beneficial partnership where students in Arizona Christian’s Elementary Education degree programs would student teach and shadow teachers in the School District....
Despite there being zero complaints about an Arizona Christian student teacher or alumnus, the School District decided to terminate its relationship with Arizona Christian and its students solely because of their religious status and beliefs on biblical marriage and sexuality.
ADF issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
UPDATE: A settlement agreement (full text) was reached on May 3, 2023, under which the parties will enter a revised student teacher agreement. World News Group reports on the settlement.
