King George, Virginia — King George County Public Schools will once again allow middle school students to form noncurricular clubs, including a Gay-Straight Alliance, after settling a federal lawsuit brought by families who challenged the district’s earlier restrictions.
The ACLU of Virginia and Potomac Law Group sued on behalf of two students after King George Middle School denied them the opportunity to form a GSA while other noncurricular groups were operating. The lawsuit argued that the district’s policy violated the First Amendment and the federal Equal Access Act.
Under the settlement, the school board reversed its ban on noncurricular organizations at the middle-school level and adopted new rules allowing students to establish such clubs. Parents must provide written permission before a student can join or attend meetings.
The school division said the revised policy is intended to balance student access to organizations with parental involvement, transparency and school safety. King George County Schools also maintains broader nondiscrimination policies and says its schools are intended to provide equal access to designated youth groups.
The ACLU said the settlement ensures that all students can access extracurricular opportunities on equal terms. Attorneys for the families said they could return to court if the district rejects a future GSA application under the new policy.
The agreement ends the immediate dispute while leaving the district’s new club application and parental-consent requirements in place.
Sources
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