A federal court in 2025 blocked the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in California from discriminating against a Christian organization that operates after-school Christian clubs in government schools.
That decision should have served as a warning to the Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) in California.
The Child Evangelism Fellowship NorCal East Bay (CEF), a client of Liberty Counsel (LC), operates the Good News Club, which provides biblical education for children who receive parents’ permission to attend.
Government school districts allow CEF to use their facilities, but some schools seemed to have used the COVID-19 pandemic school closures as an excuse to restrict facility use.
CEF alleged that OUSD denied the clubs equal access at four campuses across the district after in-school attendance resumed. A federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the religious discrimination in 2025.
CEF last month applied to HUSD to use facilities for club meetings. The school granted the club permission to meet, but not until after 6 PM — an inconvenient time for students and parents — instead of immediately after school. HUSD allowed a secular club to meet earlier.
After LC warned HUSD of its victory in Oakland, the school district wisely chose not to risk a lawsuit:
In a prompt response, the HUSD stated the Good News Club “may begin” meeting on the Park Elementary campus immediately following school hours. On May 14, the Good News Club indeed held its first meeting there.
“The First Amendment and the Equal Access Act do not allow for excluding a Christian club in a forum where other non-curricular programs are permitted,” said Mat Staver, LC founder and chairman. Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school.”
