Illinois School District Settles Lawsuit Over Good News Club Access

The Moline-Coal Valley School District in Illinois has reached a settlement with the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) regarding the treatment of its Good News Clubs. Under the agreement, the district will pay $105,351.25 in legal fees and damages while amending its policies to ensure the clubs receive equal access to school facilities compared to nonreligious organizations like the Boy Scouts.

The lawsuit, filed in February in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, alleged that the district imposed discriminatory facility fees and restricted the clubs from distributing literature or participating in school events like Backpack Nights. The CEF argued that these restrictions violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments by targeting the organization based on its religious viewpoint.

Representing the CEF, Liberty Counsel described the settlement as a victory for religious freedom in public schools. The district has now committed to treating the clubs the same as other similarly situated groups, aligning its policies with legal standards regarding the use of public school facilities by religious organizations.