North Carolina School Under Fire for Disallowing Secular Student Group

Written by Don Byrd
Church-state separation advocates in North Carolina are challenging a high school’s decision not to approve a secular student organization. The Secular Student Alliance is a national organization with chapters in many schools, but Pisgah High School officials in Canton told students the group would not “fit in” at the school, according to a letter sent by the ACLU and FFRF.

Lawsuit Challenges NC School Voucher System

Written by Don Byrd
A lawsuit filed by a group of North Carolina public school advocates challenges the state's new school voucher program that allows parents to use taxpayer money to fund private or religious school tuition. The suit argues the scheme violates the state constitution's requirement that school funds be used exclusively for a uniform public school system.

Employers Pay for Failure to Accommodate Religion of Employees

Written by Don Byrd
The EEOC announced settlement recently in two religious freedom lawsuits against employers who failed to reasonably accommodate employees. In Nags Head, North Carolina, a hotel will pay $45,000 and institute new training and policies regarding religious discrimination. The employee in the case was required to work on the Sabbath despite her requests not to be scheduled at that time.