A group of parents has filed a lawsuit against the Palo Alto Unified School District and Brent Kline, principal of Palo Alto High School, in federal court. The lawsuit, filed on August 7 in the Northern District of California, alleges that a field trip to the Muslim Community Association mosque in Santa Clara was a form of religious indoctrination funded by taxpayers.
The complaint centers on a visit that took place in fall 2025, during which students were reportedly encouraged to wear Islamic attire, received Qurans to take home, and observed a midday prayer service. The plaintiffs include ten individuals and the advocacy group Community Members for Religious Neutrality in Public Schools — San Francisco Bay Area. Among them, eight are Jewish, while others are from Hindu and Zoroastrian backgrounds and do not have children enrolled in the school district.
The lawsuit claims that the mosque is the only religious site visited by the program and that its website has promoted both school visits and local religious conversions. The plaintiffs argue that the district failed to maintain religious neutrality and protect student privacy, and they allege that outside speakers were not adequately vetted or supervised.
The lawsuit also mentions Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who spoke to students during the visit. Billoo has described the lawsuit as misguided, asserting that students were educated about Islamic practices and that participation was voluntary.
The complaint further alleges that students were photographed during the visit in a manner that promoted Islamic customs, and that parents were not adequately informed about the photography or given an opt-out option.
Superintendent Jason Glass stated that the district learned of the lawsuit through news coverage and has not yet been served. He noted that the district is reviewing its practices regarding religious instruction. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial, an injunction against similar future activities, removal of student images, nominal damages, and attorneys' fees.