FFRF successfully halted the teaching of creationism at a Colorado public charter school. (April 2026)

Colorado —

FFRF successfully halted the teaching of creationism in the science curriculum at a Colorado public charter school.

FFRF wrote to the CEO of James Irwin Charter Schools after a concerned parent reported that James Irwin Charter Middle School in Colorado Springs was planning to include “intelligent design” and “creationist theory” alongside evolution in its eighth-grade science curriculum. According to an email sent to parents by the school’s science lead, the evolution unit proposed to “teach Intelligent Design and evolution” and “present a creationist theory and an evolutionist theory regarding natural selection, adaptation and evolution.”

FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district explaining that teaching creationism or intelligent design in public school science classes violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

“Promoting creationism, intelligent design or any of its offshoots in public schools is unlawful because creationism is based solely on religion, not scientific fact,” her letter stated. FFRF noted that the Supreme Court and federal courts have consistently rejected attempts to introduce religious doctrine into public school science classes, including the landmark ruling in Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) and the federal decision in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District (2005), which struck down policies promoting creationism and intelligent design.

FFRF’s intervention had the desired result. Following its letter, the school system investigated the matter and scrapped the pseudoscience portion of the curriculum.

“Please know that this practice has ceased,” CEO Rob Daugherty wrote in a response to FFRF. “Intelligent design will not be taught in the middle school or in any other James Irwin Charter School as part of a science curriculum.”

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FFRF taught school district that student clubs must be student led and employees cannot promote or participate. (April 2026)

Iowa —

FFRF taught the Fort Dodge Community School District in Iowa that student religious clubs must be student led, and school employees cannot promote or participate in these clubs.

A community member reported that adult staff members at Fort Dodge Middle School (FDMS) were overtly and inappropriately involved in organizing, leading, advertising and encouraging participation in the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club. FFRF learned that during the workday, staff members at FDMS were promoting the FCA club to students and encouraging them to join. FCA is an explicitly religious organization based in evangelical Christianity and the Iowa FCA has direct statements of its Christian faith on its website homepage. Additionally, a multitude of Facebook posts were discovered that show the district having a long pattern and practice of routinely permitting staff and outside adults to organize, lead, promote and sponsor the middle school’s FCA club in violation of federal law and the school board’s own policy.

“Even if the club is properly renting school space for its meetings, the school cannot advertise an outside-run religious club, grant outside adults special access to students, recruit students to join the club, or promote the club’s religious message,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.

FFRF’s letter led to the district reaching out to legal counsel for advice as to how to resolve the matter. Superintendent Joshua Porter wrote in an email, “You can assure [the community member] that we have worked with our legal counsel on this matter and will follow their recommendations.”

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A nonreligious student felt excluded after not receiving a bible during a bible distribution. (April 2026)

North Carolina —

FFRF stood up for a nonreligious student in the Montgomery County Schools system in North Carolina after a bible distribution left them feeling excluded, resulting in the district being advised not to allow similar events to take place in the future.

A local parent reported that last December, Star Elementary School allowed an outside adult to distribute bibles to students on school property during the school day. Reportedly, the adult was allowed to approach students to distribute bibles. When the parent wrote to FFRF regarding the distribution, they expressed their discomfort by the event, saying, “it forced my child into an environment where they felt like an ‘outsider’ for not participating in religious-leaning instruction.”

“When a public school allows the distribution of bibles to students on school property during the school day, it entangles itself with religion, and specifically Christianity,” FFRF Patrick O’Reilley Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote. “Distributing bibles needlessly marginalizes students, such as our complainant’s child, who are nonreligious, as well as those who belong to minority faiths.”

After receiving FFRF’s letter, the district contacted legal representative Patricia Robinson to ensure full compliance with the Constitution. Robinson confirmed that the district investigated the situation, stating that, while the bibles were available for students to pick up and were indicated not to be district affiliated, the event “was not consistent with board policy regarding the distribution of non-school materials.” Robinson additionally provided legal training to school administrators regarding the First Amendment and compliance with board policy regarding distribution of non-school materials.

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A public school system in Oklahoma stopped a high school football coach from leading students in prayer before games. (April 2026)

Oklahoma —

Thanks to information provided by a local member, FFRF’s work saw the San Springs Public Schools system in Oklahoma stop a high school football coach from leading students in prayer before games.

After receiving a report from member William Dusenberry, FFRF learned that the head football coach at Charles Page High school had reportedly led student-athletes in the Lord’s Prayer before a game in December 2025. In order to protect student rights, FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district, calling for an investigation to put a stop to coaching staff  pushing prayer on students.

“When coaches lead students in prayer and direct or encourage them to pray, the student-athletes will no doubt feel that participating in that prayer is essential to pleasing their coach and being viewed as a team player,” Lawrence wrote.

The district rightfully looked into the situation, and FFRF learned from the district’s legal representative, John E. Priddy, that action had been taken. “The administration and I have spoken about ensuring that this does not happen in the future and the administration is committed to ensuring the law is followed.”

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A school district made sure that a superintendent wouldn’t continue the practice of emailing students overtly religious content. (April 2026)

Pennsylvania —

The Muhlenberg School District in Reading, Pa., made sure that the superintendent wouldn’t continue the practice of emailing students overtly religious content.

A student informed FFRF that on April 18, 2025, the district superintendent sent a schoolwide email to all Muhlenberg High School students and staff that explicitly promoted Christian beliefs, including a statement about how students need to “remember that Jesus gave His life out of love for all humanity.” The email signature additionally promotes faith. The student explained that this was not the first time the superintendent has promoted Christianity in a school setting, and they felt unheard and unseen due to the superintendent’s actions.

“Public school staff, including superintendents, may not promote religion to students,” FFRF Staff Attorney Madeline Ziegler wrote to the school board.

The school board reached out to its legal representative Brian F. Boland. “The matter you brought to the school district’s attention in July has been investigated and addressed,” Boland confirmed. “We welcome you to advise us if any such issues should come to your attention in the future.”

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A Police Department in Tennessee removed a bible quote after FFRF explained how it isolated non-Christian members of the community. (April 2026)

Tennessee —

The Mount Juliet Police Department in Tennessee removed a bible quote after FFRF explained how it isolated non-Christian members of the community.

A concerned resident informed FFRF that the Mount Juliet Police Department’s roll call room in its headquarters had a bible verse displayed prominently on the front wall. It read, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying. ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’ – Isaiah 6:8.” The resident who reported the quote stated that seeing the bible verse made them feel that “the police are working on behalf of one religious group rather than all.”

“Minority religious and nonreligious citizens should not be made to feel like outsiders in their own community because the MJPD promotes a particular religious group’s beliefs, implying official support for Christianity,” FFRF Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote to Chief of Police Tyler Chandler.

After receiving FFRF’s letter, the violation was corrected. In an email to FFRF, Chandler addressed the complaint, stating that it would be resolved quickly. “I opted to have our construction manager and the graphics vendor revise the quote, and I am waiting for the work to be completed,” he wrote. “There are other graphic items in the new building that need to be corrected (not related to your specific inquiry), and all work should be completed by the end of the month.”

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A school district in Wisconsin made sure to refocus future Veterans Day programs by removing a scheduled prayer from future events. (April 2026)

Wisconsin —

The school district of Loyal, Wis., made sure to refocus future Veterans Day programs by removing a scheduled prayer from future events.

A district parent reported that in 2024 and 2025, the district’s Veterans Day programs on Nov. 11 included prayer as a scheduled part of the program. Additionally, FFRF learned that the football coach was leading the team in prayer before games and at team dinners.

“Even if students and parents know about the religious content of these activities and are able to opt out, voluntariness is no excuse for violating students’ rights,” FFRF Staff Attorney Madeline Ziegler wrote to the district.

After receiving FFRF’s letter, Superintendent Chris Lindner took the time to respond to the concerns and ensure that students’ rights were the district’s top priority. “I will talk to the program director of the Veterans Day program about taking this off the schedule,” Lindner wrote. Thankfully, Lindner also confirmed that the coach was not leading prayers, and that students were not being forced to participate in the religious practice.

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FFRF places full-page ad in NY Times supporting ‘No Kings’ march

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is joining in the defense of secular democracy with a full-page advertisement in the March 28 New York Times that coincides with the nationwide “No Kings” marches. 

The ad, which will appear in perhaps the country’s most respected newspaper, warns against the growing influence of Christian nationalism in American government and calls on citizens to reaffirm the nation’s foundational principle: that there are no kings — only laws, and a Constitution that applies equally to all. 

“America was founded on the rejection of monarchy and the embrace of Enlightenment ideals,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “We’re reminding the public that no political leader is above the law, and no religion should be imposed through government.” 

The “No Kings” marches, taking place in cities across the country, are organized in response to increasing concerns about authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms. FFRF’s ad underscores the role of secular governance in protecting individual freedoms, including religious liberty and the right to nonbelief. 

“The separation of state and church is what ensures true religious freedom,” says FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “When government aligns with religion, it undermines both democracy and personal liberty.”

The advertisement features bold, symbolic imagery and a clear message: In the United States, sovereignty belongs to the people — not to religious authority or political strongmen.

FFRF encourages supporters and concerned citizens to participate in local “No Kings” marches and to remain vigilant in defending constitutional rights.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With close to 42,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.

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April 13, 2026 – FFRF Co-President Dan Barker to perform live in FFRF’s Concert Series (Madison, Wis.)

Madison, Wis.-area FFRF members and their family and friends are invited to attend FFRF’s unique monthly concert series beginning Monday, April 13, 2026 and taking place in FFRF’s 4th floor auditorium.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. (CT) sharp. Please be there no later than 6:45 p.m. (CT) because events will also be livestreamed.

Concerts will begin at 7:00 p.m. (CT) sharp. The hour-long concerts will be followed by dessert.

Please RSVP by Thursday, April 9, 2026 to reserve your spot(s) for the debut concert. To RSVP, send an email to RSVP@ffrf.org or call 608-256-8900.

Mark your calendar for future concerts:

Monday, April 13 — Composer Jerome Kern.

Monday, May 11 — Songwriter Irving Berlin. 

Monday, June 8 — Songwriters George & Ira Gershwin.

Monday, July 13 — Lyricist Yip Harburg.

Monday, August 24 — Songwriter Cole Porter.

Monday, September 21 — Composers Richard & Mary Rodgers.

Monday, November 9 — Finale. Medley including Dorothy Fields, Jay Gorney, Burton Lane, Tom Lehrer, Frank Loesser, Thelonious Monk, Stephen Sondheim and Charles Strouse.

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FFRF pointed out secular students’ rights not to participate in religious assignments. (March 2026)

California —

The Los Angeles Unified School District affirmed secular students’ rights not to participate in religious assignments going forward after FFRF pointed out the exclusive nature of a Day of the Dead lesson.

A district parent reported that from October to November 2025, Broadway Elementary School was instructing their first-graders about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and required students to participate in crafting an “ofrenda,” an altar to deceased family members.

The student was given a flyer that explained “Families believe the spirits of their loved ones return to the world of the living for a brief time to visit their families,” and that “Offerings are made to the spirits, including their favorite foods, drinks and personal items, to help guide and nourish them on their journey.”

The parent stated that their child was confused and did not comprehend the spiritual meaning behind creating the altars, and they had to explain to their child that the traditions the school was teaching were not practices the family believed in.

FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district, which then worked to provide a more inclusive and welcoming environment for students. “District policy allows students to opt out of extracurricular or noninstructional activities that may conflict with religious or personal beliefs,” Chief Administrative & Education Counsel My I. Huynh wrote. “In the event that an opt out is requested, school administrators are to ensure that an alternate activity is provided as a form of accommodation. Parents can be notified ahead of time to ensure that they have ample time to request any accommodation.” Huynh also ensured that school administrators were instructed that if religious themes were to be included in lessons going forward, they must be presented in a neutral and objective manner, and be directly related to sound secular educational goals.

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