Lawsuit Claims Mosque Trip Violated Religious Neutrality

Parents and former students have filed a lawsuit against the Palo Alto Unified School District, alleging that a school-sponsored field trip to a mosque crossed constitutional boundaries by encouraging religious participation rather than offering neutral academic instruction. The federal suit, filed in early August 2026, claims that during a visit to the Muslim Community Association’s mosque in Santa Clara in November 2025, students were given copies of the Quran, girls were encouraged to wear hijabs, and photographs of the students were published online without parental consent.

The trip was part of Palo Alto High School’s Social Justice Pathway program, a three-year curriculum focused on social issues. The plaintiffs, represented by the group Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools, include two Jewish parents, three former Jewish students, and parents from Hindu and Zoroastrian backgrounds. They argue the activity constituted school-endorsed religious participation, violating the separation of church and state. The lawsuit also names the school’s principal, Brent Kline, as a defendant.

A central figure in the dispute is Zahra Billoo, executive director of...