A public charter school in Dallas, Texas is facing a complaint from an atheist group for promoting religion in the classroom.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) lodged a complaint against Advantage Academy before the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which supervises primary and secondary education.
Advantage Academy, founded by Christian pastor Allen Beck in 1998, has more than 1,800 students in four campuses in Texas, according to The Dallas Morning News.
"We ask that the TEA investigate Advantage Academy and take action to prevent its schools from endorsing Christianity to its students," FFRF wrote in its complaint.
It said that if the school "is allowed to continue operating as a public charter school, it must drastically change its policies and curriculum so that it will be in compliance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."
In a statement, Advantage Academy denied the accusation, saying it "is neutral and does not endorse any church or religious practice."
It's not the only charter school in Dallas with religious ties. Turkish Muslims helped in establishing Harmony Public Schools, which critics said have ties to a Turkish imam named Fethullah Gulen.
Other charter schools such as Life School and Golden Rule Charter School were established by pastors and have had classes in church buildings.
TEA spokesperson DeEtta Culbertson said charter schools can hold classes in churches and be run by preachers but cannot promote any religion.
She said students can read the Bible for class but only in historical or literary context but not a religious one.
"For most school districts and charter schools, they're very aware of it," said Culbertson. If there's complaint, she said, "we just remind them and they usually take care of it."
FFRF staff attorney Patrick Elliott said they found a video of Beck giving a sermon at the Brazilian Christian Church in Carrollton last November in which he talked about his aim to bring "the Bible, prayer and patriotism back into the public school system legally."
"This is God's school. How did I get this school? I attacked the gates of the city based on grace from God. ... I attacked the educational system," said Beck, according to FFRF.
Advantage Academy said Beck spoke as an individual at the church and "we respect and celebrate his First Amendment rights and freedom of religion and assembly, as we do all people."
