https://www.christianpost.com/news/la-school-district-agrees-to-give-christian-group-equal-access.html
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The Conflict
The Faith and Fellowship Club, a student-led Christian group at the Arts and Entertainment Virtual Academy (AEVA), was initially barred from promoting its activities in the school’s weekly webinar.
Liberty Counsel’s Argument:
Viewpoint Discrimination: The school promoted the Islamic observance of Ramadan and urged students to celebrate it through art, but did not offer similar promotion for Christian holidays like Christmas or Easter.
Master List Exclusion: The club was left off the school's master list of extracurricular activities.
Legal Grounds: The firm cited the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act, which mandate that if a school creates a "limited open forum" by allowing non-curricular clubs, it cannot discriminate based on the religious or political nature of a specific group.
The Resolution
Following a demand letter sent on April 17, 2026, the LAUSD reversed its decision.
Equal Access: The district agreed to include promotional slides for the Faith and Fellowship Club in the weekly webinars.
District Response: The LAUSD maintained that their previous actions weren't discriminatory, noting that the Faith and Fellowship Club was the only "student-led" club versus "school-led" enrichment programs. However, they agreed to the inclusion to ensure equity.
Outcome: According to the club's student leader, attendance doubled at the first meeting following the new promotional placements.
Key Legal Context
This case highlights the ongoing application of the Equal Access Act (1984), which prohibits public secondary schools that receive federal funds from denying equal access to student groups based on the "religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings."
