Federal Judge Orders California School District to Allow Christian Good News Club on Campus

A federal judge has permanently ordered a major California school district to allow a Christian Good News Club to meet on campus, ending a lengthy legal dispute over religious discrimination.

The Good News Club is an after-school program run by Child Evangelism Fellowship that teaches Bible stories and Christian values to elementary school students. The club had been denied access to school facilities that were available to other community groups.

The court found that the school district violated the First Amendment by treating the religious club differently from secular organizations. The ruling requires the district to grant the club the same access to campus facilities that it provides to other after-school groups.

Child Evangelism Fellowship has fought similar battles in school districts across the country. Courts have consistently ruled that public schools cannot exclude religious groups from facilities that are open to other community organizations.

The ruling is permanent, meaning the district cannot reverse course without returning to court. Legal advocates for religious freedom called the decision a clear affirmation that faith-based groups have equal rights under the law.