Appellate court says New York City can restrict use of school facilities for religious services

June 3, 2011
Ruling says facility use by religious groups could be seen as endorsement of particular religion

From The New York Times: New York City again has legal standing to block religious groups from using school facilities outside of regular school hours for "religious worship services," a federal appeals court has ruled. The 2-1 ruling states that the city "a strong basis to believe" that allowing the religious services in school facilities could be seen as the kind of endorsement of religion that violated the First Amendment’s establishment clause. The decision from a 1995 lawsuit brought by an evangelical Christian church, the Bronx Household of Faith. It contended that the city was violating the First Amendment in denying it access to a school, when it allowed other community groups to have space for their activities.

Sponsored Recommendations

Providing solutions that help creativity, collaboration, and communication.

Discover why we’re a one-stop shop for all things education. See how ODP Business Solutions can help empower your students, school, and district to succeed by supporting healthier...

Building Futures: Transforming K–12 Learning Environments for Tomorrow's Leaders

Discover how ODP Business Solutions® Workspace Interiors partnered with a pioneering school system, overcoming supply chain challenges to furnish 18 new K–12 campuses across 4...

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...