HAYWARD, CA – As a result of Liberty Counsel’s representation of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and its Northern California East Bay chapter, the Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) will now allow a Christian Good News Club equal access to meet on its Park Elementary campus immediately after school like other after school programs.

In April 2026, CEF submitted a facility-use request to host the Good News Club immediately following school hours, but the district initially would not allow the club to meet until after 6 pm despite allowing the “Girls on the Run” program earlier access. District officials cited the Good News Club would “potentially interfere” with other after school activities and present a “security issue” with having non-HUSD staff on campus, even though Good News Clubs have been operating on other HUSD campuses for several years. 

Liberty Counsel informed district officials that the Good News Clubs are legally entitled to equal access as other “similarly situated” after school programs, like “Girls on the Run.” Liberty Counsel pointed to its recent legal victory against the Oakland Unified School District where a federal court granted an injunction giving CEF’s after school clubs access on an equal basis as other similarly situated non-religious groups. Liberty Counsel also noted that CEF’s volunteers are subjected to rigorous vetting and background checks.

In a prompt response, the HUSD stated the Good News Club “may begin” meeting on the Park Elementary campus immediately following school hours. On May 14, the Good News Club indeed held its first meeting there.

In August 2023, Liberty Counsel had previously contacted HUSD after CEF had requested to resume holding Good News Clubs as it had done before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancelation of all clubs in Spring 2020. The district eventually permitted the Good News Clubs to meet directly after school on campus like other clubs.

CEF NorCal East Bay is a non-profit organization and subsidiary of Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc., an international non-profit children’s ministry. CEF Good News Clubs positively impact the lives of children and their families. Good News Clubs typically meet once per week, immediately after school, and are led by trained and vetted local community volunteers. The clubs provide religious and other teaching and activities to encourage learning, spiritual growth, and service to others, as well as social, emotional, character, and leadership development. Good News Clubs do not charge any fee and welcome children with written permission from parents. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We commend the Hayward Unified School District for ensuring equal access for Child Evangelism Fellowships after school Good News Clubs. The First Amendment and the Equal Access Act do not allow for excluding a Christian club in a forum where other non-curricular programs are permitted. Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school.”

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