EVERETT — A lawsuit against Everett Public Schools filed by an off-campus student prayer group has ended in an out of court settlement totaling $275,000 in attorney’s fees, instituting required religious liberty training, and an apology from EPS.
The legal dispute stemmed from the non-profit group, LifeWise Academy, which hosts off-campus student prayer groups held during school hours. In November 2025, LifeWise delivered written notification to Everett Public Schools citing potential discrimination against the Christian religious group. In December 2025, attorneys for LifeWise filed suit against the district.
The settlement approved by the Everett Public Schools Board of Directors, requires the Board to undergo religious liberty training, issue a public written apology for its actions, pay $275,000 in attorney’s fees, and make changes to the District’s policies governing religious activities.
In response to the settlement, Everett Public Schools tells the EverettPost.com, the district does not partner with, endorse, nor oppose any religious organization or program. No religious programs operate out of our schools during the school day. Parents and guardians have the right to choose to seek the release of their students during the school day for religious-related activities or instruction that occurs off school property for part of the school day pursuant to District Policy 2340 and Procedure 2340P. The policy and procedures align with both Washington State (RCW 28A.600.025) and federal law, with which the district is required to comply. The procedure allows students to be excused for a portion of the school day, provided the instruction is conducted off-site and does not disrupt their regular classroom instructional time.
In the course of the lawsuit earlier this year, judicial rulings favored LifeWise’s claim which has precipitated the out of court settlement. The case largely revolves around a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Zorach v. Clauson, which determined that teaching the Bible during the public-school day was constitutional and therefore legal in all 50 states under three conditions: it occurs off school property, its privately funded and parent permitted.
Everett Public Schools board member, Charles Adkins, according to plaintiff’s attorneys, previously accused LifeWise of engaging in an “effort to turn our nation into a fascist theocracy,” and publicly declared at a board meeting, “I want to make it very, extremely, abundantly clear, that yes, I do in fact hold animus toward LifeWise Academy.”
The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington granted a preliminary injunction against the school district in April 2026. This settlement ends the religious discrimination lawsuit between the parties.
As a result of the settlement, an apology will be posted on the District’s website, which reads in part: “The District recognizes that comments made at various Board meetings that concerned LifeWise, including by Directors, were offensive and hurtful to the families participating in LifeWise programming. For that, the District and its Board of Directors offer a sincere apology. We recognize that these statements negatively affected the exercise of your faith. The District values the rights of all families to raise their children according to their own religious beliefs. We further apologize to any students or families that were made to feel by these comments that your religious beliefs are unworthy of respect.”
Joel Penton, CEO of LifeWise Academy said, “This settlement is a welcome victory for Everett families who simply want the freedom to choose Bible education for their children during school hours. We are pleased that LifeWise will receive the same access and respect given to other optional programs. We look forward to continuing to provide children in the Everett community with Bible-based character education.” LifeWise Academy is a national group that establishes local chapters. Penton resides in Columbus, Ohio.
Stephanie Taub, Senior Counsel at First Liberty Institute, which provided legal assistance for the plaintiffs stated about the settlement, “Religious discrimination has no place in public schools. We are grateful to have reached this settlement on behalf of LifeWise. This is a tremendous victory not only for our clients but for all religious release time programs.”
LifeWise Academy is a nonprofit that provides voluntary Bible education to public school students during school hours under released time religious instruction laws. Attorneys representing LifeWise say despite strong parental support, the Everett School District singled-out LifeWise for onerous regulation and hostile remarks. The attorneys say the school board adopted regulations prohibiting LifeWise from participating in community events and displaying its flyers, requiring LifeWise students to conceal any written materials they receive from LifeWise in a sealed envelope in their backpacks, and requiring LifeWise parents to follow a needlessly complicated and burdensome permission-slip policy, namely, weekly reauthorization for students to participate in LifeWise. Those attorneys said no other program requires similar burdensome regulations.