Creekside Prayer Club

L.A.W. and J.W. are students at Creekside Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington. Both are kind-hearted students with stellar academic records and a vibrant faith. L.A.W. had a particularly difficult experience as a religious student in fifth grade. Because of her experience, L.A.W. decided to start an interfaith prayer club along with her sister J.W., so that students like her could have a place after school where they feel safe and welcome, and where they can bring students together to serve their community.  The club would be open to all students, regardless of their faith background, and would include time for prayer and community service.

In February 2024, L.A.W. and her mom met twice with Principal Amy Allison. L.A.W. enthusiastically explained her vision for a student-led club that would be open to all grades and all faiths with the goal to help students feel included in a powerful, positive way to help others in the community. She also noted that if a sponsor was required, she knew some staff and other adults who would be willing to volunteer.

Principal Allison told L.A.W. and her mom that all the funding for school clubs was allocated in October, and she had missed the deadline. But just one week before L.A.W.’s request for a prayer club, a Pride Club was formed in the school. And the school allows a dozen other clubs, including the Green Team and the Toastmasters Club. In a follow-up meeting, the principal told L.A.W. that she could fill out an application to pay to use the school after hours. When L.A.W. asked why she would have to pay like an outside group when other student clubs don’t have to pay, Principal Allison responded, “I am sorry, [L.], I just can’t tell you what you want to hear,” and “we can’t allow it.”

In one last attempt, L.A.W. emailed the principal asking, “It is my last year at Creekside, and I am really excited about my faith club. I already have some ideas planned. Is there any way you could please change your mind?” Principal Allison did not respond.

In April, First Liberty sent a demand letter to Principal Allison and the Board of Directors for the Issaquah School District, asking that L.A.W.’s request for a prayer club be granted and begin meeting by the end of the month.

A few weeks later, the Issaquah (WA) School District told the students that would be allowed to start the interfaith prayer club at Creekside Elementary.

“We are very pleased that the Issaquah School District is allowing our clients to start a prayer club at their school this spring,” said Kayla Toney, Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute.  “Schools should always respect the religious beliefs of their students. This is a victory for students of all faiths and a reminder that people of faith have a constitutional right to express their religious beliefs and pray, even in a public school setting.”