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Petitioner: BOE of Westside Community Schools

Respondent: Mergens By and Through Mergens

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The administration at Westside High School denied permission to a group of students who wanted to form a Christian club. This club was to take place under the same requirements as other student lead clubs at Westside. After the school board upheld the administration's decision, Bridget Mergens and her fellow peers decided to sue Westside Schools. They stated that the school board's decision violated the Equal Access Act, which made schools that were under federal funds provide equal access to those wanting to express religious, philosophical, or political views.

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Was Westside's prohibition against the formation of the Christian club consistent with the Establishment Clause?

Did it go against the Equal Access Act?

The difference between non-curricular and curricular.

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It was an 8-1 decision. The Supreme Court ruled that under the Equal Access Act, denying the Christian club formation, as long as the club remained non-curricular, went against the constitution. The students won the case and their right to form the group.

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Link to Website: https://lawrelatededucation.org/document-library/individual-rights-supreme-court-cases/128-board-of-education-of-the-westside-community-school-v-mergens/file