Florida —

FFRF saw its hard work pay off when multiple violations in the Orange County Public School system in Orlando, Fla., were resolved.

FFRF received a report that in May 2024, Sunrise Elementary School partnered with Genesis Church in order to promote student attendance at the church’s affiliated summer camp, “IGNITE Summer Camp.” While Genesis Church advertises IGNITE as a sports- and arts-focused camp, an official video from the camp showed attending students praying and participating in what appeared to be religious seminars as part of camp activities. Per its website, part of the camp’s purpose is to be a place “where coaches, trainers, artists and athletes of faith are able to share what they believe and how it has shaped them in various sports or art.”

Further issues arose when the complainant reported that starting the week of Dec. 2, 2024, Sunrise Elementary began broadcasting Christmas music over the school’s PA system during morning drop-off and after the final bell. Sunrise Elementary did not play music over the PA relating to any other winter holiday or tradition, just Christmas.

“We ask that the district take action to ensure Sunrise Elementary School ceases promoting and favoring religion, and specifically Christianity,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote.

After FFRF’s letter, district legal representative John Palmerini spoke with school staff regarding the promotion of the religious camp on the school’s Facebook page. “Under our policy KHC, any such ad like that has to have a written disclaimer stating that the materials are not sponsored or endorsed by the School Board of Orange County, Florida,” Palmerini wrote in an email to the Sunrise Elementary principal that was later forwarded to FFRF.

The post FFRF saw its hard work pay off when multiple violations in the Orange County Public School system in Orlando, Fla., were resolved (August 2025) appeared first on Freedom From Religion Foundation.