Idaho charter school says state illegally barred use of Bible as an instructional text

Idaho school sues state over Bible plan

BOISE, Idaho — A public charter school is suing Idaho officials, saying the state illegally barred use of the Bible as an instructional text.

The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Boise on behalf of Nampa Classical Academy in Idaho.

The charter school is scheduled to open Sept. 8 and had planned to use the Bible as a primary source of teaching material, but not to teach religion.

The Idaho Public Charter School Commission said last month that the school couldn’t use the Bible because the state constitution “expressly” limits use of religious texts.

The Alliance Defense Fund says the school has a statutory right to choose its own curriculum and the Bible shouldn’t be singled out for censorship.