House education chairman presses Chicago Public Schools over alleged discrimination against Christian teachers

US House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg sent a letter to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Superintendent Macquline King raising concerns that the district may be committing religious discrimination against a Christian college and its student teachers.

In the letter, Walberg cited reports suggesting that Chicago Public Schools may be excluding students from Moody Bible Institute from participating in the district’s student teaching program unless the college agrees to change its faith-based hiring policies.

“Public reporting indicates that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) may be discriminating against students of Moody Bible Institute (Moody) in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution. 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. If true, this is unlawful,” Walberg wrote.

Walberg explained that Moody, an accredited postsecondary institution, prepares students for teaching careers through its elementary education bachelor’s degree program, which has received approval from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“At or about the time Moody received the State Board’s approval, the Board highlighted the importance of Moody participating in CPS’ student teaching program. Moody proceeded to apply to CPS’ Pre-Service Teaching Program. However, CPS required Moody to sign two agreements as a precondition for its students to student teach in the school district. The agreements…would force Moody to abandon its Constitutionally protected, faith-based employment policies and practices in order to participate in CPS’s student teaching program,” the letter states.

According to Walberg, the agreements would require the college to alter its religious beliefs in order for its students to be allowed in CPS classrooms.

“The effect of the two agreements, if left unchanged, is to compel Moody to abandon its Biblically-based doctrinal positions as a condition of participation in CPS’s Pre-Service Teaching Program. 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 added.

The chairman requested that King provide documents and information to help determine whether legislative action is needed to address potentially unlawful discrimination. Walberg also noted that CPS receives taxpayer funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion.

In a statement to The College Fix, Walberg 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.