Moody Bible Institute, Chicago
CHICAGO - An evangelical Christian college in Chicago has sued Chicago Public Schools, saying district officials have unconstitutionally refused to allow student teachers from the college's education program to participate in CPS' student teaching programs unless the college agree to abide by CPS' so-called "non-discrimination" rules, which the school said would require it to violate its adherence to traditional Christian doctrine.
The Moody Bible Institute filed suit in Chicago federal court on Nov. 4 against the Chicago Board of Education, which governs CPS.
In the action, Moody claims CPS has locked its student elementary teachers out of student teaching opportunities in Chicago public schools, allegedly violating the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom in the process.
In the lawsuit, Moody specifically accuses CPS of denying Moody's request for a waiver from the district's policies requiring schools participating in CPS' student teaching programs to agree to the district's so-called "anti-discrimination" rules.
Moody asserts requiring it to agree to those terms would actually require the Christian school to violate its religious beliefs in traditional conservative Christian teachings on sexuality and gender and would violate the school's constitutional right to hire only "co-religionists," or those who agree to Moody's statements of Christian faith and belief.
Moody is represented in the action by attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom, a prominent national nonprofit conservative constitutional advocacy organization. ADF has secured several victories, inlcuding before the U.S. Supreme Court, on behalf of religious adherents who claim governments have violated their First Amendment religious freedoms.
“Chicago desperately needs more teachers to fill hundreds of vacancies, but public school administrators are putting personal agendas ahead of the needs of families,” said attorney Jeremiah Galus, of the ADF. “Moody holds its faculty and students to high standards of excellence and is more than qualified to participate in Chicago’s student-teaching program. By excluding Moody for its religious beliefs, Chicago Public Schools is illegally injecting itself into a religious non-profit’s hiring practices, which the Constitution and state laws expressly forbid.”
According to the lawsuit, Moody operates a bachelor of arts in elementary education degree program, designed to educate and train future elementary school teachers.
The program is accredited. It was approved by the Illinois State Board of Education in January 2024.
During hearings before the ISBE, the lawsuit notes state board members specifically directed Moody to ensure its student teachers practice in a variety of diverse classroom settings, including in Chicago's public schools.
Moody indicated to state officials it wished to send its student teachers into CPS schools.
However, when Moody applied to participate in CPS' student teacher program, the school said it was told by CPS that it could not, because CPS does not allow colleges or universities to participate if they "discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of ... religion, ... gender identity/expression, [or] sexual orientation."
As a conservative evangelical Christian institution, Moody requires its employees to "share and live out its biblical beliefs and values, including those on marriage and human sexuality."
Moody said it asked CPS to grant the school an "amendment to the policy" which would recognize Moody's constitutional rights as a religious institution.
However, in the lawsuit, Moody alleges CPS refused their accommodation request, prompting Moody to file suit.
"... The Board, which is the government body responsible for the supervision and management of Chicago Public Schools, has denied Moody and its students access to Chicago Public Schools’ student-teaching program unless Moody agrees to surrender its legal rights to make its own employment decisions based on religious faith," Moody wrote in its complaint.
"By excluding Moody and its students for Moody’s faith-based employment practices, the Board violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
"The exclusion is even more troubling because every year Chicago Public Schools struggles to fill hundreds of vacant teaching positions. By barring Moody and its students from participation, the Board not only violates their constitutional and statutory rights but also deprives its own schools and students of well-prepared and qualified student teachers," Moody wrote.
Moody is seeking a court order declaring CPS has violated its constitutional rights and requiring CPS to allow Moody to participate in the student teaching program.
They are also seeking unspecified "nominal and compensatory damages," plus attorney fees.
In addition to ADF, Moody is represented in the action by attorneys John W. Mauck and Whitman H. Brisky, of the firm of Mauck & Baker, of Chicago.
