Chicago | Moody Bible Institute will be allowed to participate in Chicago Public Schools’ student teaching program after the college alleged religious freedom violations in being excluded.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) first said Moody couldn’t participate in the student-teacher internship unless the institute abandoned its religious-based hiring practices, but agreed to drop the requirement after Moody filed a federal lawsuit.
“We are deeply grateful that a resolution has been reached affirming our constitutional right to hire individuals who are aligned with our core mission and biblical values,” Moody Provost Tim Sisk said in announcing the settlement. “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 toward becoming effective educators.”
Moody limits employment to those who share and live out its biblical beliefs and values, including those on marriage and human sexuality.
Originally, CPS said the policy violated the internship program that required participating colleges and universities to not “discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of … religion, … gender identity/expression, [or] sexual orientation.” As such, CPS deemed Moody’s religious-based requirements discriminatory and resisted Moody’s pleas for a policy amendment that would allow religious schools’ participation.
As part of the settlement, CPS will recognize Moody’s right to limit employment to those who agree with the institute’s religious tenets.
Moody’s participation will help students fulfill a degree requirement. In Moody’s Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree program the Illinois Board of Education approved in January 2024, students must spend a minimum number of hours in classroom observation, practicum, and student teaching.
Alliance Defending Freedom represented Moody in the November 2025 lawsuit Moody Bible Institute of Chicago v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago, dropping its claim March 12 after reaching the settlement.
“Chicago desperately needs more teachers to fill hundreds of vacancies, but public school administrators are putting personal agendas ahead of the needs of families,” ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus said when CPS excluded Moody from the program. “Moody holds its faculty and students to high standards of excellence and is more than qualified to participate in Chicago’s student-teaching program. By excluding Moody for its religious beliefs, Chicago Public Schools is illegally injecting itself into a religious non-profit’s hiring practices, which the Constitution and state laws expressly forbid.”
The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody founded in 1886 the institute that today has 2,300 students enrolled in a diversity of biblically based undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Moody said it considers faculty and staff ambassadors in spreading the Gospel while also educating students.
“We sincerely appreciate ADF for their thoughtful counsel and dedicated efforts,” Sisk said, “and we are thankful for the many prayers and support that have helped ensure this important opportunity remains available to our students.”
ADF partners with IBSA to protect churches’ First Amendment Rights and offers IBSA churches annual review of their legal documents for a discounted fee.