Everett School District Settles After Religious Nonprofit Sues Over Violation of First Amendment Rights – www.dailysignal.com
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EXCERPT:
A religious education nonprofit has settled its lawsuit against the Everett School District in Washington state after suing the district for violating its First Amendment rights.
The Everett School District, whose board director admitted “animus” toward LifeWise Academy will be required “to undergo religious liberty training, make changes to district policies governing religious activities, issue a public written apology on the district’s website visible for six months, and pay $275,000 in attorney’s fees.”
The district settled despite saying LifeWise’s claims were untrue and that their own actions were reasonable and neutral.
LifeWise is a Chrisitan education program that provides Biblical teaching off campus to public school students during school hours. In January 2025, LifeWise began offering their courses to students at Emerson Elementary School in the Everett Public School District.
According to the suit, the Everett School District began imposing exclusive restrictions on LifeWise Academy. The district excluded LifeWise from events and flyer displays, required weekly parental authorization, and obligated students to keep LifeWise materials sealed in their backpacks.
In November 2025, LifeWise sent a letter to the school board protesting the unfair treatment. In reply, Everett School Board member Charles Adkins stated, “I want to make it very, extremely, abundantly clear, that yes, I do in fact hold animus toward LifeWise Academy. … It is an organization of homophobic bullies who are active and willing participants in the efforts to bring about an authoritarian theocracy.”
Other members and commenters have criticized LifeWise at school board meetings, some even comparing LifeWise to the Nazi Party. One commenter stated that LifeWise is “a very dangerous program.” Many others protested against LifeWise as they viewed it as a religious indoctrination program.