Oklahoma —
The Muskogee Public Schools system in Oklahoma informed FFRF that schools within the district would be reviewed in order to make sure all clubs are not interfering with the separation of state and church.
Multiple community members reported that Irving Elementary School was organizing, promoting and opting all students into a religious club, Kids for Christ. A complainant stated that on Sept. 23, 2025, their child came home with a form to opt out of attending a Kids for Christ club that was meeting every Thursday morning at school in students’ “designated pods.” The form had been handed out to students by school staff. The form additionally included explicitly religious imagery such as the bible and advertises religious events, including “See You at the Pole.” Further, the form instructed parents to opt out of the club by returning the signed form to the school office.
“The plain meaning of this permission slip indicates that all students at Irving Elementary School will be attending and participating in Kids for Christ unless their parent or guardian returns the opt out form,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district. “In other words, the elementary school is unilaterally creating, organizing, running, and signing elementary school students up for an overtly Christian club on school property.”
Upon receiving FFRF’s letter, the district conducted an investigation, and Executive Director of Elementary/Student Services Ginger Baker detailed the steps included in the investigation, which included: “The district meeting with administration to further explore student clubs at each site and handling of materials that may not meet federal or state requirements regarding separation between state and church.”
