Victory for Bible Club in NY

This week the ACLJ helped a New York high school student start up an after-school, student-led Bible study club. A senior at a high school in Amsterdam, NY, received approval from her principal to begin the after-school club, but on the day the club was to begin, the school superintendent informed the student that the club needed an insurance policy to use school facilities after hours. However, other student-led clubs were not required to obtain an insurance policy.

In response to the student’s parent’s request for help, the ACLJ provided information about the relevant legal principles regarding religious clubs’ access to school facilities and that the Bible club must be given the same privileges as any other student-led club. If other student-led clubs are not required to obtain insurance policies, this senior should not be required to obtain one for the Bible club. Upon receiving this information, the school allowed the student to start up her after-school Bible study club. We are pleased with this outcome and are committed to helping protect religious liberty in public schools.