October 23, 2000
Grand Rapids, MI – A lawsuit filed in December 1998 by the ACLU and three
families at National Heritage Academies Vanguard Campus has had its intended
effect says Kary Moss, Executive Director of the ACLU of Michigan. As a
direct result of the lawsuit, Vanguard has put in place policies that reverse
a long list of previous practices that promoted religion, including
volunteers reading bible stories and praying in the classrooms, the display
of religious signs, allowing the distribution of religious literature,
providing a church rent-free access while charging other groups, and
organizing a teacher training that included prayer, religious music and a
Baptist sermon. This lawsuit is one of the first in the nation to challenge
religious practices in charter schools.
"Since charter schools are considered public schools, they are bound to
follow the First Amendment," said Moss. "We have long worried that charter
schools would try to circumvent the law by promoting religion. This lawsuit
has been instrumental in revealing what really goes on in some of these
schools, and in sending the message that these schools will be accountable."
Due to corrective action taken by Vanguard, the lawsuit has been rendered
moot on most points and plaintiffs do not intend to appeal last month's
dismissal of the case. Prior to filing this suit, National Heritage refused
to put policies in place that protected children from proselytizing in
the classroom. Now there are policies in place and the school has taken
steps to restrain teachers and volunteers who wish to use public schools as a
forum for evangelizing. "We have accomplished what we set out to do," said
parent Jeff Seaver.
The ACLU will now take a wait-and-see approach: "We will be monitoring
activities at the school to ensure that the new policies are indeed being
enforced," said cooperating attorney, Kary Love. "We are hopeful that
National Heritage will follow through on its commitment to remain neutral on
religious issues."