Congressional leader questions Chicago over alleged discrimination against Christian student teachers

A senior Republican lawmaker is demanding answers from Chicago Public Schools after a Christian college accused the district of excluding its students from classroom placements because of their religious beliefs.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, sent a letter Dec. 19 to Chicago Public Schools raising concerns the district is pressuring Moody Bible Institute to abandon its faith-based standards for its students to participate in student teaching, the College Fix reports. 

As reported by the Lion, Walberg’s inquiry follows a lawsuit filed in November by Moody, a private evangelical Christian college based in Chicago. The school alleges the district refuses to let its education students student teach unless Moody agrees to comply with district policies conflicting with its religious values. 

In his letter, Walberg says the Chicago Board of Education appears to be blocking Moody and its students unless the school agrees to change its hiring policies rooted in Christian doctrine. 

“Specifically, the governing board of CPS – the Board of Education of the City of Chicago – appears to be excluding Moody and its students from participating in CPS’s student teaching program unless Moody agrees to change its faith-based hiring policies and practices,” Walberg writes. 

The Michigan congressman argues the dispute raises serious constitutional questions, especially since Chicago Public Schools receive federal funding. Walberg cited the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which bars discrimination based on religion. 

Walberg asked Interim Superintendent Macquline King to turn over documents related to the matter so Congress can review whether legislative action is needed to address religious discrimination. 

In a separate statement, Walberg said the allegations should concern anyone who values religious freedom. 

“If true, that clearly violates the Constitution. Faith-based institutions shouldn’t be pressured by government entities to violate their religious beliefs. Period,” he said. 

The lawsuit alleges Chicago Public Schools enforces non-discrimination rules covering “gender identity/expression” and “sexual orientation” in a way that forces Moody to abandon its religious hiring practices. When the college asked the district to modify the policy, the request was denied, according to the suit. 

“Stated differently, Moody must conform to CPS’s views on ‘gender identity/expression’ and ‘sexual orientation,’ or its students cannot student teach in CPS,” Walberg wrote. 

The Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the college in the lawsuit, maintains Chicago Public Schools is missing out on much-needed help by discriminating against Christians. 

“Chicago desperately needs more teachers to fill hundreds of vacancies, but public school administrators are putting personal agendas ahead of the needs of families,” ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus said in a release. 

“Moody holds its faculty and students to high standards of excellence and is more than qualified to participate in Chicago’s student-teaching program. By excluding Moody for its religious beliefs, Chicago Public Schools is illegally injecting itself into a religious non-profit’s hiring practices, which the Constitution and state laws expressly forbid.” 

Walberg requested CPS provide documents to his committee by Jan. 5.