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ACLU Successfully Challenges Bible Classes in Texas Public Schools
The ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief scored a resounding victory on March 5, 2008, when it settled a highly-publicized lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a curriculum used in a bible course taught in a west Texas public school district.
> Learn more about the case, Moreno v. Ector County School Board
> ACLU Cases Defending Religious Freedom

The ACLU defends students' free speech rights in the public schools and defends students' rights to pray in the schools. Additionally, whenever a teacher allows children to choose their own topics for an assignment (such as which book to read, which song to sing, or which topic to study for a presentation), students may choose religious themes - and the ACLU has protected their right to do so. Schools may also offer courses about religion or about the Bible or other religious works.

Public schools themselves should not, however, be in the business of promoting particular religious beliefs or religious activities. While it is permissible for public schools to teach about religion, it is not permissible to promote particular religious beliefs. While public schools should not be leading children in prayers or religious ceremonies, they should be respectful of the religious beliefs of students. Further, public schools should protect children from being coerced by others to accept religious (or anti-religious) beliefs. Public schools should seek to create an environment conducive to learning by all students and not act as vehicles proselytizing for religious or anti-religious beliefs.

The ACLU believes that the religious education of children should be directed primarily by parents, families, and religious communities - and not the public schools.

ACLU Questions Proposed Regulations Implementing Anti-Evolution Louisiana Science Education Act (06/10/2009)
Concerned that religion might find its way into Louisiana's science classrooms, the ACLU of Louisiana, with support from the ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, has filed comments with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding proposed regulations for implementing the "Louisiana Science Education Act." The Act authorizes science teachers to use supplemental instructional materials not approved by the State purportedly to help students foster critical thinking skills regarding various "controversial" subjects, such as evolution and global warming. Louisiana enacted the law last year over vigorous objections from the ACLU and other civil-rights and science-education advocates who were concerned that the measure would allow teachers and local school boards to inject "creationism," "intelligent design," or other religiously based, anti-evolution concepts into the science curriculum. The ACLU's comments argue that, because of past efforts to promote creationism and its progeny in Louisiana – all of which have been struck down by the federal courts – it is especially important to ensure that the Act be implemented in a way that does not improperly promote religion.

Federal Judge Approves Order Requiring Santa Rosa, FL Schools To Abide By First Amendment (05/08/2009)
PENSACOLA, FL – A federal judge today made public a consent decree requiring school officials in Santa Rosa County, Florida to stop promoting their personal religious beliefs in public schools.

Appeals Court Overturns Decision to Dismiss ACLU Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of Arizona Individual Tax Credit Program (04/21/2009)
PHOENIX – In an important victory for religious freedom, the United States Court of the Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today ruled that a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Arizona's individual tax-credit funded scholarship program can move forward. The unanimous ruling comes in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona.

ACLU Applauds Arizona Supreme Court Decision Striking Down School Voucher Program (03/25/2009)
PHOENIX – The ACLU of Arizona applauds today's decision by the Arizona Supreme Court striking down two state-funded voucher programs as a violation of the so-called "Aid Clause" of the Arizona Constitution.

Senate Votes Down More Federal Funds for School Vouchers (03/10/2009)
WASHINGTON – An amendment that would continue an expiring program to provide federal funds for private and religious school vouchers in the District of Columbia was defeated today in the Senate. The amendment would have extended the federally-funded District of Columbia school voucher program, the nation’s first and only federally-funded private and religious school program of its kind. Federal funding for private and religious school vouchers are currently set to expire at the end of the next school year. The amendment, number 615, was proposed to H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 by Senator John Ensign (R-NV), but was defeated by a vote of 58-39.

Doe v. School Board for Santa Rosa County, Florida, et al. - Consent Decree and Order (05/08/2009)

Arocha et al. v. Needville Independent School District - Complaint (10/01/2008)

Doe v. School Board for Santa Rosa County, FL - Complaint (08/27/2008)

Croft v. Governor of the State of Texas - Amicus Brief Objecting To Government Promotion of Prayer In Texas’ “Moment Of Silence” Law (06/07/2008)

Moreno v. Ector County Independent School District Board of Trustees - Complaint (05/16/2007)

ACLU Letter to House Budget Committee Leadership Urging Opposition To Federally-Funded Private And Religious School Vouchers Amendment (03/25/2009)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan organization with more than a half million activists and members and 53 affiliates nationwide, we urge you to oppose any amendment to the Concurrent Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010 that would create, expand, or continue any federally-funded private and religious school voucher program. The Committee should not create, expand, or continue any program in the District of Columbia that would funnel scarce federal taxpayer funds to unaccountable private and religious schools.

Coalition Letter to Senators Urging Opposition to Ensign Amendment to the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (03/04/2009)
The undersigned organizations of the National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) strongly urge you to oppose an amendment to be offered to the FY 2009 omnibus appropriations bill by Senator Ensign that would undo compromise language adopted last year prohibiting further funding of the Washington, D.C., private school voucher program absent a program reauthorization.

ACLU Letter to Senate Members Opposing Federally-Funded Private and Religious School Vouchers (03/04/2009)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan organization with more than a half million activists and members and 53 affiliates nationwide, we urge you to oppose any amendment that would create, expand, or continue any federally-funded private and religious school voucher program, including Senator Ensign’s recently filed amendment number 615, as the Senate considers H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009. The Senate should not create, expand, or continue any program in the District of Columbia that would funnel scarce federal taxpayer funds to unaccountable private and religious schools.

ACLU Letter to Senate Urging Opposition to Federally-Funded Private and Religious School Vouchers (02/25/2009)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a non-partisan organization with more than a half million activists and members and 53 affiliates nationwide, we urge you to oppose any amendment that would create, expand, or continue any federally-funded private and religious school voucher program, including Senator Ensign’s recently filed amendment number 587, as the Senate considers S. 160, District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009. The Senate should not create, expand, or continue any program in the District of Columbia that would funnel scarce federal taxpayer funds to unaccountable private and religious schools.

Coalition Letter to Senate regarding "Creation Science" Earmark (10/10/2007)
Dear Senator: We, the undersigned religious, civil rights, education, science, and advocacy organizations write to urge you to remove an earmark from the Fiscal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill’s Committee Report. The Fund for Improvement of Education, under Title III, contains an earmark for uses that, if funded, would be blatantly unconstitutional. The earmark would fund curriculum that promotes teaching creationism in the science classroom, even though uniformly prohibited by federal courts.

What Odessa, Texas, Parents Say about Religious Bible Teachings in Public Schools (05/16/2007)

Statement on The Bible in Public Schools: A First Amendment Guide (05/09/2007)

Frequently Asked Questions About "Intelligent Design" (09/16/2005)