Girl, 11, is barred from starting a faith club while classmates are allowed to set up a Pride group: Washington schools at center of another religious row after football coach was fired for praying with players

A Washington state school is being accused of violating a 5th grader's First Amendment's religious freedom protections by denying her request to establish an on-campus interfaith prayer club.

An eleven-year-old girl's application to start a prayer group to bring together students of different faith backgrounds to 'serve their community' was rejected by Creekside Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington. 

However, Creekside permits over a dozen other 'non-religious clubs' to meet including a Pride Club, which is a 'safe space' for educating students and staff on 'LGBTQIA+ history and people,' according to the school's website.

Principal Amy Allison also allows a Green Team, focused on making the school 'more sustainable,' Marimba Club, Chess Club and Student Council among other secular groups.

'Denying the formation of a religious student club while allowing other clubs violates the Constitution,' Kayla Toney, associate counsel at First Liberty Institute, told DailyMail.com. 

The school district is also down the road from Bremerton, Washington, where Coach Joseph Kennedy won at the Supreme Court in 2022 over his unjust firing for leading on-field prayers with his high school football team. 

Creekside Elementary allows a Pride Club, which is a 'safe space for students to build community' as well as to 'educate and raise student and staff awareness about LGBTQIA+ history and people,' according to the school's website

Bremerton High assistant football coach Joe Kennedy, front, walks off the field with his lawyer, right, Oct. 16, 2015, after praying at the 50-yard line following a football game in Bremerton, Washington

Joe Kennedy is surrounded by Centralia High School football players as they kneel and pray with him on the field after their game in 2015

Former Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy takes a knee in front of the U.S. Supreme Court after his legal case

Bremerton paid a hefty price for stopping Coach Kennedy from praying, but other schools in Washington are apparently not getting the message. 

'In Coach Kennedy's case just a short drive away in Bremerton, the Supreme Court held that students and staff can pray at school - and to prohibit them violates the First Amendment,' Toney added.

'School officials at Creekside Elementary are engaged in religious discrimination against an eleven-year-old girl who simply wants to pray, feel support from other religious friends, and do community service.'

First Liberty is now warning the school that their decision to reject the prayer club is unconstitutional.  

'Such anti-religious discrimination violates the First Amendment's free exercise and free speech clauses,' Toney writes in a letter to Principal Amy Allison and the Board of Directors of Issaquah School District.

She specifically told DailyMail.com that the school's ask that the eleven-year-old student pay to facilitate the club on campus after school hours - like an outside group - creates an unfair standard compared to the other allowed secular groups. 

In addition, she says that it's 'significant' that the school allows the other clubs on campus, but not a religious club. 

'This is viewpoint discrimination,' Toney continued.  

The principal never responded to the eleven-year-old student's follow-up request to establish the club. 

Toney goes on to say that that as the Supreme Court's holding in Kennedy's case made clear, the 'First Amendment protects the ability of students and employees to express their faith in public schools.'

Based on Supreme Court precedent in the neighboring school district, Issaquah School District must allow the prayer club immediately, she continues.

Based on Supreme Court precedent in the neighboring school district, Issaquah School District must allow the prayer club, attorneys say

If not, First Liberty is likely to take the matter to court - and expects to win as it did in the Coach Kennedy case. 

Toney states that the request to start a prayer club should be permitted no later than April 29, 2024. 

'If we do not hear from you and receive those assurances by that time, we will proceed as our clients direct, likely pursuing all available legal remedies,' the letter concludes.

Toney said 'we are ready to litigate if needed' and are 'fully prepared to take this to court.'

DailyMail.com reached out to the Creekside Elementary School and the school board. 

A spokesperson for the district said they received the letter and will follow up with additional details after the ongoing spring break.

'As you may already know, clubs offered are student-interest driven and meet outside of the school day. At the elementary level, participation in a club also requires parent permission,' spokesperson Lesha Engels said in a statement. 

'Once the school year begins, the building budget is set, and additional clubs are usually not added until the following school year.'