Everett Schools Agree to $275K Bible Group Settlement

Everett Public Schools in Washington state has settled a lawsuit brought by LifeWise Academy over restrictions on its off-campus Bible instruction program for students. The district agreed to pay $275,000 in attorney fees, revise policies on religious activities, provide religious-liberty training for school board members, and apologize to families. LifeWise alleged that the district treated its program differently from other groups by limiting its access to events and flyers, requiring repeated parental permission, and making students conceal program materials and Bibles in sealed envelopes. The district said its policies created difficulties for participating families and committed to administering them consistently and neutrally; board members also apologized for comments that offended LifeWise families.