U.S. school districts reach settlements over student rights and religious protections

Two separate legal victories in the United States have addressed student rights and parental religious protections in public schools.

In Virginia, a school board reached a settlement to restore the right of students at King George Middle School to form non-curricular organizations, including a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). The settlement follows a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Virginia and Potomac Law Group, which argued that a board policy banning new non-curricular clubs violated the First Amendment and the federal Equal Access Act.

In California, the Encinitas Union School District agreed to a $250,000 settlement with the family of a student who challenged classroom instruction regarding gender identity. As part of the agreement, the district committed to a new policy providing parents with advance notice and the right to opt their children out of instruction that substantially undermines their religious beliefs. This follows a federal judge's approval of the settlement, which aims to align district policy with Supreme Court requirements regarding religious protections in public education.