Multi-Faith Parents Sue Palo Alto School Over Mosque Field Trip

A group of multi-faith parents has taken legal action against Palo Alto Unified School District and Palo Alto High School’s principal, Brent Kline. They allege that a school field trip to a mosque in 2025 involved religious activities without parental consent.

Details of the Allegations

The lawsuit, filed on August 7, argues that students, as part of the Social Justice Pathway curriculum, visited a mosque and engaged in various religious activities. These included receiving religious attire to wear, accessing Qurans, and teachings on Islam’s social justice principles. Parental consent was allegedly not obtained for these actions.

“During the Fall 2025 mosque visit, students who were minors were allegedly provided with Muslim religious attire and encouraged to wear it while on site,” according to the complaint.

The field trip reportedly involved observing a Dhuhr prayer, discussing worship’s significance, and interaction with Noor Hifz Academy’s Islamic students. Students were also allegedly given Qurans to take home.

Controversy and Reactions

The lawsuit is backed by Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian parents. It contends that public schools should not promote specific religions in their curricula. David Rosenberg-Wohl, the parents’ attorney, highlighted this as a separation of church and state issue.

“In effect, kids are being told that if they are progressive and interested in social justice, Islam is the faith for them,” Rosenberg-Wohl stated.

The Muslim Community Association expressed its concerns over the lawsuit, fearing it may perpetuate Islamophobia. Palo Alto Unified Superintendent Jason Glass is reviewing the claims but has not commented due to ongoing litigation.

Student Perspectives

Some students have defended the field trip. “The Paly Voice” editor-in-chief, Juni Thurston, disputed claims of enforced hijab wearing and indoctrination.

“The idea that they would be working to indoctrinate students into Islam, or any religion, is an idea extremely foreign to me,” Thurston wrote, while acknowledging concerns over Zahra Billoo’s participation in the trip.

Legal Implications

According to Adam Goldstein, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), requiring students to wear religious attire could breach the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment prevents public schools from forcing students to pledge allegiance to the flag, and it likewise prevents them from compelling students to wear religious attire,” Goldstein commented.