Today, a federal district court approved of a consent decree between the Moline-Coal Valley School District and Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) of Illinois after the district had unlawfully denied Good News Clubs equal access to school facilities for more than five years. This order permanently enjoins the school district from discriminating against CEF on the basis of religion. 

CEF’s lawsuit named Superintendent Dr. Rachel Savage, the school district, and the district’s Board of Education as defendants for denying CEF access to three elementary school facilities while allowing access to similar non-religious organizations. 

The parties entered a consent decree which requires the school district to amend its policies to provide the Good News Clubs the same access to school facilities and forums as similar-situated nonreligious groups, such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girls on the Run. The decree also requires the district to comply with the procedures that stipulate equal treatment and timely evaluation of facility-use requests. In the settlement, the Moline-Coal Valley School District agreed to pay $105,321.25 in damages and attorney’s fees and costs.

According to the lawsuit, the Good News Clubs had free equal access from 2017 to 2020 after which a sudden shift took place where the district started imposing fees and restrictions to advertise while other similar groups did not. Over time, school officials refused to accept legal materials outlining CEF’s rights and insisted that the school was bound by Board policies, despite the policies giving discretion to waive fees. Meanwhile, the district ignored multiple letters from CEF seeking resolution and equal treatment, but has now changed its posture after facing litigation. 

CEF of Illinois is a non-profit organization and subsidiary of Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc., an international non-profit children’s ministry. CEF Good News Clubs has a positive impact on the lives of children and their families. Good News Clubs typically meet once per week, immediately after school, and are led by trained and vetted local community volunteers. The clubs provide religious and other teaching and activities to encourage learning, spiritual growth, and service to others, as well as social, emotional, character, and leadership development. Good News Clubs do not charge any fee and welcome children with written permission from parents. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “This is a reasonable judgment and great victory for Child Evangelism Fellowship, parents, and students in the Moline-Coal Valley School District. The First Amendment prohibits public schools from discriminating against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities. Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school and that includes these Moline schools.”