![]() ![]() The Washington Elementary School District board voted to end its partnership with ACU simply because of the university’s and its students’ religious beliefs.īecause of this clear violation of the First Amendment, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a lawsuit against the school district to protect the religious freedom of both Arizona Christian University and its students. In fact, the school district never cited any wrongdoing, complaints, or evidence of any ACU student teachers violating any school district policy during the 11 years the school district partnered with ACU. In reality, Arizona Christian and its students’ Christian beliefs instruct them to show kindness, love, and respect to the elementary students they teach and other staff members within the school district. One board member suggested the university’s Christian beliefs would prevent ACU student teachers from properly caring for and respecting students and would make people feel “unsafe,” citing Arizona Christian’s “Core Commitment” to “be committed to Jesus Christ.”Īnother board member said he was afraid the student teachers would push their beliefs on the elementary students and implied ACU students would shame certain students. During the meeting, multiple board members disparaged ACU’s Christian beliefs. But in February 2023, the district school board unanimously voted not to renew the agreement simply because of ACU and its students’ religious character and beliefs. ACU signed that document, stating it would like to continue. Both Washington Elementary School District and ACU agreed to the renewal each year, up until 2023.įollowing that tradition, the School District sent ACU a notice asking it if it wanted to continue the partnership. The agreement had a term of five years, with the option to be renewed on a year-to-year basis. It also allowed either the elementary schools or Arizona Christian University to dismiss student teachers if they were not performing as they should be. ![]() The agreement noted that student teachers needed to meet the standards of the district and follow all written policies at the schools where they were teaching. It was meant “to enable an educational experience for student teachers at that may qualify for University academic credit as determined by. In February 2018, ACU and Washington Elementary School District signed another partnership agreement. In fact, the district has hired multiple Arizona Christian student teachers to full time positions over the last 11 years.īut the district school board recently voted to bring this partnership to an end.Īrizona Christian University v. ACU students have gained valuable teaching experience in the classroom, which they need to complete in order to graduate, and the district has enjoyed excellent service from student teachers. This partnership has benefited both Arizona Christian and Washington Elementary School District. The partnership has allowed ACU students in its elementary education program to student-teach and shadow teachers in the district. ![]() It seeks to “educate and equip followers of Christ to transform culture with the truth.” It educates every student through a biblical worldview, and it encourages students to “serve the Lord Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.”ĪCU has partnered with Washington Elementary School District, the largest elementary school district in Arizona, for the last 11 years. Becoming a teacher is a unique way to have a positive influence on the next generation, and that is exactly what Arizona Christian University students in the elementary education program are seeking to do.įor more than a decade, the university had an agreement with a nearby school district that helped student teachers gain valuable experience and provided quality teaching for elementary students in the district.īut in February 2023, the district school board abruptly-and unconstitutionally-ended that agreement, harming both students in the district and student teachers from the university.Īrizona Christian University is a private Christian university in Glendale, Arizona.
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