A Colorado high school senior has challenged her school district's policy after her proposed design for a senior parking space, which included a Bible verse, was rejected for violating a ban on religious content. Attorneys representing the student argue the school's decision infringes upon her First Amendment rights.
Sophia Shumaker, a senior at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, submitted a design that featured a shepherd and a reference to 1 Corinthians 13:4. After the school denied her proposal, a national legal organization specializing in religious liberty cases has intervened, sending a demand letter to Academy School District 20.
Key Takeaways
- Rampart High School senior Sophia Shumaker's parking space design with a Bible verse was rejected by the school.
- The school's guidelines prohibit designs that are considered religious, political, or offensive.
- Legal counsel from First Liberty Institute has sent a demand letter to Academy School District 20, alleging a First Amendment violation.
- The district has until October 31 to respond to the letter, which asks for a policy change and for the student to be allowed to repaint her space.
A Dispute Over Expression
The controversy began when Sophia Shumaker participated in a Rampart High School tradition allowing seniors to personalize their parking spots. Her initial sketch included imagery of a shepherd, a sheep, and a staff, accompanied by the text of 1 Corinthians 13:4, a well-known Bible passage about love.
According to Shumaker, school officials rejected the design, citing guidelines for the school-sponsored activity. These rules prohibit content that is “offensive, negative, rude, gang-related, political, or religious.”
In an attempt to comply while still expressing her faith, Shumaker submitted a revised design that included only the biblical reference, “1 Corinthians 13:4,” without the full text or religious imagery. This second proposal was also denied. Ultimately, she painted a different design: a school of fish with one swimming in the opposite direction, an image she says is a more subtle representation of her beliefs.
“My identity, everything about me, is through Christ. I just wanted that to be represented in my parking space,” Shumaker stated in an interview.
Legal Action and First Amendment Claims
Following the rejections, Shumaker's family sought legal assistance from the First Liberty Institute, a non-profit law firm focused on religious freedom cases. On Tuesday, the firm sent a formal demand letter to Academy School District 20, arguing that the school’s policy and its application in this case violate Shumaker’s constitutional rights.
The letter contends that the school’s blanket ban on religious expression constitutes viewpoint discrimination, which is prohibited under the First Amendment’s free speech and free exercise clauses. Attorneys for the student argue that by creating a forum for student expression like personalized parking spots, the school cannot exclude certain viewpoints simply because they are religious.
Understanding School Speech Policies
Public schools often navigate a complex legal landscape regarding student expression. While schools can regulate speech that is disruptive, lewd, or school-sponsored, courts have generally protected students' rights to private religious and political expression as long as it does not interfere with the educational environment. The central question in this case will likely be whether a personalized parking spot is considered government speech or a forum for private student speech.
Keisha Russell, senior counsel with First Liberty Institute, emphasized the broader implications of the school's actions. “It’s important that educators know how to deal with this,” Russell said. “It’s part of their job to teach students how the First Amendment applies to them, so they can take that into the real world and use it.”
The School District Responds
Academy School District 20 has acknowledged receipt of the letter and is currently reviewing the matter. In a public statement, the district confirmed it is aware of the legal challenge but refrained from commenting on specific details, citing potential litigation and student privacy.
District Statement: “Academy District 20 is aware of an attorney letter regarding a Rampart High School student parking spot design. We do not comment on potential legal matters or individual student situations but confirm that we are reviewing the information provided.”
The district also noted that it had not been contacted directly by the family before receiving the letter from the attorneys on October 22. The statement characterized the senior parking spot program as a “school-sponsored activity with content guidelines and a staff approval process,” a distinction that could be central to its legal position.
What Happens Next?
The demand letter from First Liberty Institute sets a clear deadline for the school district. It requests two specific actions:
- Allow Sophia Shumaker to repaint her parking space with her original, faith-based design.
- Revise the district policy to remove the prohibition on religious messages in student expression forums.
The district has been given until October 31 to respond to these demands. If a resolution is not reached by that date, the situation could escalate, potentially leading to a federal lawsuit. Shumaker has expressed hope that her situation will empower other students to advocate for their beliefs.