California High School Faces Lawsuit Over Quran Distribution and Hijab Encouragement During Mosque Visit

A group of parents and former students have filed a lawsuit against a high school and the local school district in Palo Alto, California, alleging religious endorsement during a school trip to a mosque. The visit was part of the school's "Pathway to Social Justice" program in the fall, where students reportedly received copies of the Quran and female students were encouraged to wear the hijab. The lawsuit claims these actions crossed the line between educational content and religious promotion, violating the principle of religious neutrality in public schools.

The plaintiffs, representing Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian families, also allege that students were photographed during the visit and that these images were published online without parental consent. They argue that the school failed to properly supervise the students and infringed on their privacy and parental rights. The lawsuit names the Palo Alto Unified School District and the high school principal, Brent Klein.

During the mosque visit, students met Zahra Billoo, director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who has faced criticism for previous comments urging discretion regarding anti-Zionist sentiments. Billoo denied the lawsuit's claims, stating the school’s role is to educate students about diverse worldviews and that participation in the visit was voluntary. She emphasized that exposing students to different religions is essential to combating hate.

The school district said it was only made aware of the lawsuit through media reports and is reviewing its policies to ensure religious instruction remains academic rather than devotional. Superintendent Jason Glass stressed that any religious content in schools must be neutral and educational. The case highlights ongoing debates about the boundaries between religious education and endorsement in public schools in the United States.