Victory for Special Needs 5th Grader: Texas School District Reverses Bible Verse Ban After ACLJ Legal Demand

In a major victory for the First Amendment and religious freedom in public schools, the ACLJ has successfully secured a policy reversal from the Killeen Independent School District in Texas. The district had unconstitutionally banned a 5th-grade student with special needs from sharing Bible verses with classmates. After swift legal intervention from our team, the school district acknowledged that students have the right to distribute religious materials during non-instructional time.

This is more than just a policy change – it’s a clear affirmation that students do not lose their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.

A Child’s Faith Under Fire

As we previously wrote, the facts here are disturbing. A young girl, deeply rooted in her Christian faith and motivated solely by love and sincerity, began sharing typed Bible verses on little strips of paper with classmates during recess, lunch, and after school. Her actions were entirely peaceful and voluntary and occurred outside classroom instruction.

Despite this, on May 12, she was reprimanded by the principal, and her materials were confiscated – simply because they contained Scripture. This little girl was deceived by the principal into thinking the principal wanted to hand out these strips of “joy” when, in reality, the principal was suppressing her speech. The justification? Hypothetical complaints from parents – complaints that were never made.

This was a blatant violation of the 5th grader’s First Amendment rights.

ACLJ Responds: Constitutional Law Is Clear

When the student’s foster mother reached out, we immediately acted. Our legal team notified the district of its constitutional obligations and demanded a response by May 22. We were prepared to take legal action, including completely drafting a lawsuit in case the school district wanted to close ranks and erroneously protect unconstitutional conduct by its administrators and teachers.

The law is unambiguous. In Tinker v. Des Moines, the Supreme Court ruled that students retain their First Amendment rights in public schools. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld that students may distribute religious materials during non-instructional time – as long as it doesn’t disrupt school operations.

On the deadline day, the district reversed course. Officials issued a letter acknowledging the student’s rights and committed to adhering to constitutional standards going forward. The principal was informed of the correct policy, and assurances were made that student religious expression would be respected moving forward.

This Victory Sends a Clear Message

This isn’t just about one child. This is a legal precedent that reinforces several critical principles:

• Students don’t surrender their rights at the schoolhouse gate.
• Religious speech must be treated equally under the law and not suppressed because of “viewpoint.”
• Speculative fears cannot override constitutional protections.  

School officials cannot suppress religious expression simply because it makes them uncomfortable or “may” offend someone. The Constitution does not permit a “heckler’s veto” – silencing speech just because someone might be offended.

This incident is part of a disturbing trend. Across the country, we’re witnessing growing hostility toward religious expression in public schools. Too many administrators operate under the false belief that faith must be excluded from the classroom entirely. That’s not just wrong – it’s unconstitutional.

In this case, the victim wasn’t just any student – she was a child with special needs. Her only intention was to share the hope and comfort of Scripture with others. Instead, she was silenced and punished for her faith. That’s why we acted – and why we’ll continue to act wherever rights are under attack.

The Battle Continues

While we celebrate this peaceful victory and celebrate the school district’s constitutionally correct response, the fight is far from over. We’re seeing more and more students and teachers told their beliefs are unwelcome, their voices are unwarranted, and their rights are negotiable. The ACLJ remains vigilant and committed to defending religious liberty wherever it’s challenged.

We’re ready to step in – again and again – until the rights of every student of faith are fully protected.