A Texas school has reversed its decision prohibiting a special needs student from sharing Bible verses with peers. According to the American Centers for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the principal and a teacher at Killeen School District in Killeen, Texas confiscated slips of paper containing Bible verses that a special needs student was handing out to her peers. The ACLJ alleged that on May 12, Phylicia Miner, the principal at Cedar Valley Elementary, took the slips of paper from the student after initially being allowed to share them. On May 15, the school’s principal informed the student’s mother that school policy, “prohibits all distribution of religious material on school property at any time.”

In response, ACLJ sent a demand letter to the district. The letter reminded the school that, “While school officials may apply ‘reasonable regulation[s] [to] speech-connected activities in carefully restricted circumstances,’ they may not censor student expression unless the speech ‘impinge[s] upon the rights of others’ or creates a material and substantial disruption to the school’s ability to fulfill its educational goals.” The letter referenced Tinker vs Des Moines Independent Community School District, which ruled that students are permitted to share religious beliefs during non-instructional time. The ACLJ gave the district until May 22^nd to correct the issue or be faced with legal action.

On the day of the deadline, the district relented and permitted the student to distribute the slips of paper. “In response to your letter, I have personally spoken with the principal at Cedar Valley Elementary. I discussed with the principal that a student may distribute religious material during non-instructional time, when the distribution does not interfere with work in the classroom,” wrote Mike Harper, the district’s general counsel. He assured that, “The principal assured me that she understood and confirmed that [KISD] Board policy will be followed in the future.”

ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow called the change a “major win.” “Public schools are actively attacking our children’s religious liberties, suppressing their Christian faith,” he stated, detailing how the student was initially told she could distribute the slips of paper, only to be told otherwise. Sekulow also objected to any assertions by the school that the student had tried to distribute her slips of paper during instructional time. Sekulow stated that the school had assured them that both the principal and student fully understood their student’s constitutional rights. “This is not just a win for one student – it’s a victory for every student’s right to live out their faith,” wrote Sekulow. “We’re proud to have stood by her and grateful to see her rights affirmed.”