A group of multi-faith parents initiated legal action against the Palo Alto Unified School District in California and Palo Alto High School’s principal Brent Kline concerning a field trip to a local mosque last year. The lawsuit, filed on August 7, raises concerns about the school’s Social Justice Pathway curriculum, where students visited a mosque hosted by the Muslim Community Association. The complaint alleges students participated in several religious activities and were encouraged to wear religious clothing without parental consent.
The complaint detailed that during the Fall 2025 mosque visit, minor students were provided Muslim religious attire and encouraged to wear it on site. Allegations stated that students received Qurans and were taught that Islam promotes social justice. Additionally, the field trip reportedly involved observing a Dhuhr prayer, discussing worship, and engaging with Noor Hifz Academy, where Islamic students memorize the Quran. Female students received hijabs, and all students were gifted Qurans to take home.
Filed by Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian parents, the lawsuit mentions involvement of Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Bay Area office, who has previously been controversial for allegedly antisemitic statements. David Rosenberg-Wohl, representing the parents, expressed that public schools like Palo Alto High should not promote Islam specifically within its curriculum, stating that the matter is about the separation of church and state.
The Muslim Community Association responded by expressing concern over the lawsuit, arguing that viewing students’ exposure to ordinary Muslim faith as coercive reinforces Islamophobia, which educational engagement seeks to dispel. Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Jason Glass informed that he is reviewing the allegations but refrained from further comments due to pending litigation.
While some parents were upset, student reactions varied. Juni Thurston, editor-in-chief of “The Paly Voice” student newspaper, contested claims that female students were forced to wear hijabs and indoctrinated with Islamic beliefs. Thurston argued that the teachers involved are not intentionally working to indoctrinate students, though acknowledged concerns over Billoo’s presence on the trip.
Adam Goldstein, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), commented that if students were compelled to wear religious attire, it would violate the First Amendment. He emphasized the connection to compelled speech, similar to restrictions against forcing students to pledge allegiance to the flag.