Equal Access Victories Across the Land

The following is a report from Liberty Council and some of the  victories they have been seeing across the USA with regard to Bible clubs and "Equal Access" in general.  We are posting this story because we feel it is important to inform those who come to our website of good reports wherever the may be.  All of these stories are about another organization: Child Evangelism Fellowship and their afternoon Bible club programs called "Good News Clubs".   "I feel it imperative to explain to people that although the stories being told here are legal victories.  VERY RARELY is legal action needed to get a club launched", says Kids for Christ USA founder Bob Heath.  "In fact in nearly nine years of KFCUSA's existence we have only come close to legal action once".  In his book "How Are You Doing That"? Heath encourages parents and students who wish to sponsor clubs not have a "martyrs mentality" when approaching school administrations about launching you club. "Quiet confidence that federal law is in your corner".   With that said please read this very important victory report : Christian Clubs Gain Equal Access to Public Schools

Victories reported in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Temecula, and Valencia, California, as well as Boise, Idaho ORLANDO, FL (Christian Newswire) -- Liberty Counsel has recently cleared the way for numerous Good News Clubs to use public school facilities for after-school programs. The Clubs, sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), are designed to teach good character and Christian values to children ages 5-12. Supreme Court precedent requires that schools grant CEF the same access to school facilities as is granted to secular after- school programs. Liberty Counsel litigates when schools discriminate against CEF. Below are a few recent victories: Los Angeles, California Three schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District were blocking CEF clubs from meeting, with some even admitting that it was because CEF was religious. After pointing out such exclusion was against the district's own policy, California law, and the U.S. Constitution, the district smoothed out its approval procedure and cleared the way for three new clubs to start meeting at area schools. Liberty Counsel is no stranger to LAUSD. In 2003, Liberty Counsel entered into a court-approved settlement requiring the LAUSD to give equal access to the Christian Club free of charge and to pay the attorney's fees and costs for litigating this matter. Palm Springs, California After years of meeting in schools within the Palm Springs Unified School District, CEF was told that the district changed its policy and refused to distribute CEF's fliers because they promoted religion. Liberty Counsel wrote a letter explaining that the new policy was unconstitutional. After agreeing that the district's new policy needed revision, the district permitted the Good News Club's fliers to be distributed. Temecula, California  Liberty Counsel helped the Inland Valley Chapter of CEF to obtain refunds of more than $6,500 from two school districts that discriminated against CEF by charging higher fees than charged to other organizations. The Murrieta Valley Unified School District overcharged CEF by $3,361.02 because CEF is religious. Now CEF can afford to provide club meetings to the children weekly instead of monthly. The Temecula Valley Unified School District permitted secular groups to meet without cost, but charged CEF $3,246.09.  Valencia, California  The Newhall School District attempted to charge CEF for using the school when other non-profit groups used it without cost. When CEF's fee waiver was denied, Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the superintendent saying that the district could not discriminate against an organization for religious reasons. The superintendent then granted the club the same free access provided to other community groups.  Boise, Idaho  A Good News Club that was to start this Fall was suddenly cancelled by the superintendent of the Kamiah Unified School District, who refused to allow a religious club to meet or distribute announcements, citing "separation of church and state." Liberty Counsel contacted the District's attorney to explain that CEF must receive equal access. As a result, the superintendent allowed CEF to start the following week and to distribute flyers for the club.