California School Gives Good News to Clubs

Sacramento, California – Following a lawsuit on behalf of the Good News Club, which is sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship, the Chico Unified School District repealed its policy under which the District charged higher facilities usage fees to religious groups than to secular groups. The higher fees eventually forced the Good News Clubs to stop meeting. Child Evangelism Fellowship is represented by Liberty Counsel.

In November 2004, when Child Evangelism Fellowship of Butte-Tehama-Glenn requested to use District facilities to hold a Good News Club for elementary school students after school hours, the District advised it charges higher usage fees to religious groups than to secular groups. District officials refused to grant a fee waiver to the Good News Club. The District pointed to its policy which required it to charge the Good News Club a usage fee even though the same policy exempted other secular groups from paying usage fees.

Although the local CEF chapter advised the District of the Supreme Court and federal cases recognizing the equal access rights of Good News Clubs, the District officials refused to listen. Under protest, CEF paid the fees. However, since the local CEF operates on a limited budget, it had to discontinue the GNC meetings in several schools.

In April 2005, Liberty Counsel filed suit in the federal district court in Sacramento challenging the constitutionality of the District policy. The District has now repealed its policy and refunded the fee payments to CEF. Following the repeal of the District’s discriminatory policy, CEF will resume the Good News Clubs when school begins this Fall. Yesterday, the District voted to approve the settlement.

We are pleased the District has repealed its unconstitutional policy. It is unfortunate that takes a federal lawsuit to get the attention of school officials. Equal access for religious groups is not complicated. Good News Clubs have a proven track record of providing an inspirational and positive environment for elementary students. Every elementary school in American ought to have a Good News Club.

Mathew D. Staver is President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel.