"By the Book" Program Settlement

The Huntington County Community School Corp. has settled a case alleging a violation of civil rights because of a "By the Book" bible-based program on public school property. A judge issued a temporary injunction preventing the programs trailers from being on public school property after the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of a parent. After several months of litigation, HCCSC chose to settle the case rather than pursue further legal action which it believed would cost the district a great amount of money. Additionally, HCCSC believed it would not prevail in a higher court under current federal law as established by the U.S. Supreme Court. "By the Book" is a religious based program taught to 3rd and 4th graders in a trailer that used to be on public school property. Parents had to sign permission slips in order for students to participate. The program has been around for about 65 years. The Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court prohibits religious programs from being taught on public school property during instructional hours. HCCSC emphasizes no monetary damages were paid to the plaintiffs in this case and only attorneys fees were included in the settlement. A judge must still approve the settlement before it is finalized. "By the Book" organizers say they are working on bringing the program back. This time they will lease property close to the eight elementary schools the program used to be at. Students will then be able to participate in the program off public school property. HCCSC has about six-thousand students, 950 of them participate in the program.