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U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg’s probe comes after Moody Bible Institute sued the school district
A U.S. House Republican leader pressed Chicago Public Schools for answers about its anti-discrimination policies this week after a Christian college recently accused the employer of religious discrimination against its student teachers.
In the letter, an advanced copy of which was provided exclusively to The College Fix, U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg raised concerns about the public school system compelling Moody Bible Institute “to abandon its Biblically-based doctrinal positions” on human sexuality.
“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,” the Michigan congressman wrote Friday.
The letter asks Interim Superintendent Macquline King to provide documents related to the dispute to “determine whether potential legislative changes, including legislation to specifically address unlawful discrimination, are needed.”
Walberg also brought up the school district’s taxpayer funding through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which prohibits “discrimination on the basis of religion.”
In a statement to The College Fix, the congressman described the allegations as “deeply troubling.”
“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 in an emailed statement Thursday.
In his letter to the school district, Walberg said Moody should not be forced to “abandon its Constitutionally protected, faith-based employment policies and practices” in order for its students to participate in student teaching.
“Stated differently, Moody must conform to CPS’s views on ‘gender identity/expression’ and ‘sexual orientation,’ or its students cannot student teach in CPS,” he wrote.
He asked the school system to provide documents regarding the dispute to his committee by Jan. 5.
Moody, a private, evangelical Protestant college based in Chicago, sued the public school system in November.
The lawsuit alleges the Chicago Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools refuse to employ student teachers from its new elementary education program unless Moody complies with the district’s non-discrimination policies.
Following the district’s directives – which prohibit employment discrimination based on “religion,” “gender identity/expression,” and “sexual orientation,” among other things – would mean that Moody must abandon “its religiously based hiring practices,” according to the lawsuit.
When the Christian college asked the school district to amend the policy, Chicago Public Schools refused, the lawsuit alleges.
What’s more, the situation makes it more difficult for students at the college to obtain their degree, according to Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal firm representing Moody.
Student teachers are “required to spend a minimum amount of time in classroom observation, practicum, and student teaching hours” in order to obtain their degree, ADF stated in a November news release.
A spokesperson for Chicago Public Schools initially responded to The Fix’s email asking about the allegations and the federal lawmaker’s attention to the matter, but did not provide a comment.
The school district previously declined to comment on the lawsuit when The Fix reached out in November.
“Chicago Public Schools (CPS) remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students. In accordance with District policy, CPS does not comment on matters involving pending litigation,” spokesperson Evan Moore stated in an email at the time.
Neither Moody’s nor Alliance Defending Freedom’s media relations offices immediately returned a request for comment from The Fix late Thursday.
MORE: Moody Bible college says public school system discriminating against its student teachers
