Everett Public Schools Settled Lawsuit With LifeWise

The school board approved a $275,000 settlement to resolve a federal lawsuit filed by the nonprofit.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Administration

Everett Public Schools Settled Lawsuit With LifeWise

Live Poll

Should your local school district allow students to leave campus for off-site religious education?

Everett Public Schools has reached a settlement agreement with LifeWise Academy to resolve a federal lawsuit. The district will pay $275,000 to cover legal fees without admitting to any wrongdoing.

Why it matters

The resolution concludes a legal dispute regarding school policies and religious liberty. By settling, the district aims to avoid further litigation and additional expenditures from its general fund.

The district will pay $275,000 from its general fund to LifeWise Academy and Sarah Sweeny. LifeWise Academy currently operates religious education classes at nearly 1,200 schools nationwide.

The players

LifeWise Academy

This nonprofit organization manages Bible education programs for students near public schools.

Sarah Sweeny

She is a plaintiff involved in the legal action against the school district.

Lauren King

She is a federal judge who presided over the case in the U.S. District Court in Seattle.

Everett Public Schools

This is the local public school district that agreed to the settlement terms.

The details

Under the agreement, the school board must issue a public apology and complete training regarding religious liberty. The settlement effectively cancels a trial that was previously scheduled for April 2027.

January 2025: LifeWise classes began in Everett.
November 2025: Nonprofit attorneys sent a demand letter for policy changes.
December 2025: LifeWise filed the lawsuit in federal court.
April 2026: Judge Lauren King issued a preliminary injunction.
October 13, 2026: Everett school board voted to approve the settlement.

Culture Shift

This case follows a pattern set by the 1952 Supreme Court ruling on religious instruction, which established constitutional boundaries for faith-based programs in public education. The settlement reflects the ongoing evolution of legal interpretations regarding the separation of church and state in school policies.

The school district will use funds from its general budget to fulfill the $275,000 settlement requirement. Residents may see changes in district policy and official communications as the board implements the mandated training and apology.

The takeaway

This settlement highlights the importance of navigating complex religious liberty policies for public institutions. School boards often choose to resolve lawsuits through negotiated agreements to provide fiscal certainty and end prolonged legal proceedings.