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Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists officials say its complaint to Cross Creek Charter Academy that it was unlawfully allowing two adults to lead students in weekly Christian prayers on school property during school hours led them to discontinue the practice.
(MLive File Photo)
KENT COUNTY, MI - A civil rights group says a complaint it made to a Byron Center-area charter school stopped two adults from unlawfully leading students in Christian prayer on campus.
The Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists said Wednesday, March 18, it took action on behalf of concerned parents with children attending Cross Creek Charter Academy. The K-8 school, 7701 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, is managed by National Heritage Academies.
"Clergy and adults are forbidden from participating in any voluntary, student-initiated religious activity that takes place on school property during school hours, including during lunch and recess periods," said Mitch Kahle, a representative for Michigan Association of Civil Rights Activists, in a press release.
"Release time is not an opportunity for teachers or administrators to circumvent long-established laws prohibiting organized religion in public schools. Public school teachers, principals, and staff are expressly forbidden from organizing, leading, promoting, or participating in any religious activity involving students on school property--before, during or after school."
In February, Kahle also complained to Hudsonville Public Schools that it was inappropriately allowing students to attend a Bible Club in a recreational vehicle in the parking lot during lunch hour.
Related: Bible study civil rights complaint against Hudsonville schools resolved, district says
State law prohibits ministry meetings on-campus during the school day. Hudsonville school leaders said they discontinued the practice and contacted Bible Club Ministries International-Western Michigan to make provisions to be in compliance with state law.
Cross Creek Principal Joe Nieuwkoop said the academy allowing the clubs to utilize school space during recess was not to support a particular church or religion or to violate the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, according to his March 13 response to Kahle's complaint. He said the adults were not school employees.
"It should be noted that students organized during non-instructional time, no instructional classroom use was compromised, and participation was voluntary," Nieuwkoop wrote.
"As such, student religious groups or gatherings led by adults will not be allowed to hold meetings during school and/or instructional hours. However, students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and gatherings before or after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities groups."
Nieuwkoop said public schools are called upon often to balance a student's freedom of religion and freedom of expression with their duty to maintain a neutral and nondiscriminatory environment.
Kahle said his group appreciates the timely and appropriate action taken by Nieuwkoop.
Monica Scott is the Grand Rapids K-12 education writer. Email her at mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @MScottGR or Facebook