Washington School District Settles Religious Liberty Lawsuit with LifeWise Academy

Everett Public Schools in Washington has reached a settlement with LifeWise Academy, a nonprofit organization that provides off-campus Bible education for public school students. As part of the agreement, the district issued a formal apology for its previous handling of the program, which included restrictive policies and disparaging comments made by board members during public meetings. The district acknowledged that its actions caused frustration for participating families and committed to ensuring future policies are applied neutrally.

Under the terms of the settlement, the school district has agreed to revise its procedures regarding religious release time programming and will require board members to undergo training on religious liberty. Additionally, the district paid $275,000 in attorney fees to cover the legal costs incurred by LifeWise Academy. Represented by the First Liberty Institute, LifeWise leadership described the outcome as a victory for families seeking access to religious instruction. The district stated it is now committed to treating the program with the same access and respect afforded to other optional student activities.