Transcendental Remediation: $2.6M Settlement in Lawsuit Over Chicago Public School Transcendental Meditation Program

The lead plaintiff in the suit, Kaya Hudgins , was a practicing Muslim at the time of the "Quiet Time Program " The suit also alleged that students were required to complete a "Puja" initiation ceremony that included chants recognizing powers of Hindu deities.

Principal Aziz-Sims testified that students could choose not to learn Transcendental Meditation .

The Seventh Circuit has recognized that one test for evaluating Establishment Clause challenges "is known as the 'coercion' test" The defendants contend that Williams has failed to satisfy Kennedy v. Bremerton School District's "historical practices and understandings" test.

The court concluded Williams ' Establishment Clause claim was potentially viable, but a reasonable jury could—but is not guaranteed to—find that Quiet Time violated the First Amendment .

There is conflicting testimony regarding whether it was optional for students to learn Transcendental Meditation and thus experience the initiation.

A reasonable jury could find that the program included a "religious activity in which [students] had to partake[.]" The defendants move for summary judgment on compensatory damages, arguing that Williams has not provided sufficient proof of emotional damages.