Associated Press
Published: August 10, 2010
Published: August 10, 2010
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Fort Wayne school officials have decided to stop sending students to a religious instruction program on school grounds that triggered a federal lawsuit.
The School Board voted unanimously Monday to end the weekday religious education program run by Associated Churches of Fort Wayne since 1944.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana last month filed a lawsuit for the parents of a third-grader who said she was sent to Bible classes in trailers on school property without their permission.
ACLU legal director Ken Falk said Tuesday he's awaiting assurances the change is permanent.
The school district plans to replace the religious program with a character education initiative, also in conjunction with Associated Churches.