Moody Bible Institute secures settlement allowing student teachers in Chicago schools

The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago reached a settlement this week with the Chicago Board of Education that allows its student teachers to work in the city's public schools following a four-month legal battle.

The settlement included Chicago Public Schools (CPS) modifying its Student Teacher Internship Agreement to respect Moody's religious beliefs and personal expectations for its students, according to a statement from Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal group that represented Moody in the case.

In November, Moody filed a complaint alleging religious discrimination against the Chicago Board of Education for barring its students from participating in a student-teaching program solely because of the Evangelical institution's hiring practices.

The historic private Christian college, founded in 1886 by evangelist and pastor Dwight L. Moody, was expected to agree to CPS's non-discrimination policies that contradicted its policy of requiring students to adhere to historically orthodox Christian religious beliefs and practices, according to the complaint.

Despite the Illinois State Board of Education approving Moody's Elementary Education degree program in January 2024, CPS allegedly blocked Moody students from participating in its student-teacher program, citing its policy that participating colleges and universities cannot "discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of ... religion, ... gender identity/expression, [or] sexual orientation."

The complaint accused the Chicago Board of Education of violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The suit also alleged that Chicago's policy also conflicted with the requirements of Moody's elementary education program, which requires students to complete at least 10 hours of classroom observation at a public school and at least 10 hours at a Christian school.

The case drew the attention of Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., who fired off a letter in December to CPS Interim Superintendent Macquline King calling the religious discrimination allegations "deeply troubling," according to The College Fix.

Walberg, who serves as chairman of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, raised concern that CPS was expecting Moody "to abandon its Biblically-based doctrinal positions" on sexuality.

Since the settlement, Moody is now listed as an approved university partner on CPS's website and Moody Provost Tim Sisk expressed gratitude for the settlement, according to ADF.

"We are deeply grateful that a resolution has been reached affirming our constitutional right to hire individuals who are aligned with our core mission and biblical values," Sisk said.

"Moody's Elementary Education students are eager and well-prepared to participate in the CPS student teaching program, which is an essential and formative part of their journey toward becoming effective educators."

"We sincerely appreciate ADF for their thoughtful counsel and dedicated efforts, and we are thankful for the many prayers and support that have helped ensure this important opportunity remains available to our students," he added.

ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus also praised the outcome in a statement, noting that Chicago needs more good teachers.

"Chicago desperately needs more teachers to fill hundreds of vacancies, and Moody's students will be well-equipped and qualified to help meet that need," he said.

"Moody holds its faculty and students to high standards of excellence, and we're pleased to reach this favorable outcome that will allow it to participate in Chicago Public Schools' student-teaching program. We're hopeful other public officials will take note that they can't inject themselves illegally and unconstitutionally into a religious non-profit's hiring practices."