Chicago Public Schools settles with Bible college over hiring practices

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will no longer bar Bible college students from participating in its educational program after reaching a settlement Thursday in the college’s religious discrimination case.

The Moody Bible Institute, a private Christian college in Chicago, sued the Chicago Board of Education in November, alleging that CPS illegally prevented its students from participating in the district’s educational program because of the school’s religious hiring practices.

The lawsuit claims CPS excluded Moody students from its teacher internship program after the college refused to abandon its policy of hiring employees who affirm the school’s statement of faith and agree to live according to its Christian beliefs, including on matters of gender and sexuality.

“As a condition of participation, Chicago Public Schools insists that Moody sign agreements with nondiscrimination in employment provisions that prohibit Moody from employing only those who share and live his faith,” the complaint states. “Such a requirement is illegal.”

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Students outside the Moody Bible Institute, a Christian college. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) said Thursday that the settlement resolves the dispute.

According to the Christian legal group, CPS agreed to amend its student-teacher internship agreement to recognize Moody’s right to maintain its faith-based hiring practices, thereby allowing the college to sign the agreement and participate in the student teaching program. The ADF also said CPS now lists Moody as an approved university partner on its website.

“Chicago desperately needs more teachers to fill hundreds of vacant positions, and Moody’s students will be well-equipped and qualified to meet that need,” Jeremiah Galus, senior attorney for the ADF, said in a press release.

“Moody holds his teachers and students to high standards of excellence, and we are pleased to achieve this favorable outcome that will allow him to participate in the Chicago Public Schools student education program,” he continued. “We hope other public officials will take note that they cannot illegally and unconstitutionally involve themselves in the hiring practices of a religious nonprofit organization.”

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The Moody Bible Institute campus on July 30, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

According to the complaint, CPS told the religious college it would have to sign two nondiscrimination agreements to participate in the educational program. The agreements required Moody to stop hiring only employees who shared its Christian beliefs and accepted its code of conduct. They specifically prohibit discrimination based on religion, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation.

The complaint said CPS rejected Moody’s request to change the agreement’s language to recognize its right to hire people of the same faith, and applied its policy selectively, alleging that other religious colleges with similar hiring practices had been approved for the program.

“We are deeply grateful that a resolution was reached affirming our constitutional right to hire individuals who align with our core mission and biblical values,” Dr. Tim Sisk, Moody Provost, said in the press release. “Moody’s Elementary Education students are eager and well-prepared to participate in the CPS student teaching program, which is an essential and formative part of their journey to becoming effective educators.

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Students at a Chicago Bible college will now be allowed to participate in the Chicago Public Schools curriculum after a religious discrimination lawsuit was settled. (iStock)

ADF lawyers filed a stipulated dismissal in the case on Thursday.

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Chicago Public Schools did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.