A group of multi-faith parents has filed a lawsuit against the Palo Alto Unified School District in California and Palo Alto High School's principal, Brent Kline, over a 2025 field trip to a local mosque.

According to the August 7 lawsuit, the trip was part of the school's Social Justice Pathway curriculum. Students toured a mosque hosted by the Muslim Community Association and participated in religious activities. The complaint alleges that students who were minors were provided Muslim religious attire, including hijabs for female students, and were encouraged to wear it on site without parental consent. Additionally, all students were reportedly given Qurans to take home.

The lawsuit states, "During the Fall 2025 mosque visit, students who were minors allegedly were provided with Muslim religious attire and encouraged to wear it while on site." It also claims students were taught that Islam promotes social justice and took part in activities such as observing a Dhuhr prayer and engaging with the Noor Hifz Academy, a religious youth program where Islamic students memorize the Quran.

David Rosenberg-Wohl, representing the parents, told Fox News Digital that the issue concerns a public school specifically promoting Islam within its Social Justice Pathway curriculum. Adam Goldstein, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), commented that compelling students to wear religious garb would violate the First Amendment.

Some voices caution that treating exposure to Muslim faith and practice as coercive risks reinforcing Islamophobia and misunderstanding, which educational engagement aims to reduce.

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