Jewish, Hindu, Zoroastrian parents sue California school district over mosque field trip

Ten Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian parents filed a federal lawsuit against Palo Alto Unified School District and Palo Alto High Principal Brent Kline, alleging students were encouraged to wear Islamic attire and exposed to religious advocacy during a fall 2025 field trip to a Santa Clara mosque. The suit claims the district failed to maintain religious neutrality and protect student privacy.

A group of ten Jewish, Hindu, and Zoroastrian parents filed a lawsuit against Palo Alto Unified School District and Palo Alto High Principal Brent Kline, alleging that students were pushed to wear Islamic religious attire during a field trip to a local mosque in fall 2025. The lawsuit, filed August 7 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, claims the school encouraged girls to wear hijabs and gave students Qurans to take home. The plaintiffs, organized as Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools, argue the district failed to maintain religious neutrality, ensure equal treatment among faiths, protect student privacy, and vet outside speakers. They specifically cite Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR's San Francisco Bay Area chapter, who they say was allowed unfettered access to advocate personal religious and political views. The suit also alleges photos were taken without parental consent. Billoo told the San Francisco Chronicle that public schools must remain neutral but that neutrality does not mean shielding students entirely. PAUSD Superintendent Jason Glass said district policy requires teachings about religion be academic, not devotional, and that the district is reviewing its practices.