Bethany Lutheran Loses State Recognition Over Mask Defiance

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville's Bethany Lutheran School has lost state recognition after officials said it is not following Gov. J. B. Pritzker's school mask mandate.

Illinois State Board of Education officials made the decision on Wednesday, the Daily Herald reported.

When a school loses state recognition status, it can no longer access state funding and cannot participate in Illinois High School Association or Illinois Elementary School Association sports and activities.

Additionally, the loss of recognition means the state will not accept graduating seniors' diplomas – though this does not apply to Bethany Lutheran, as the school only teaches preschool through eighth grade.

Bethany Lutheran is the second private school in the suburbs to lose state recognition. However, it's the only private school currently unrecognized, as Elmhurst's Timothy Christian Schools announced that they will adhere to the mask mandate, reinstating their state recognition after it was pulled last week.

In addition to Bethany Lutheran, the Illinois Board of Education has placed 21 public school districts throughout the state on probation for refusing to adhere to the requirement.

"These districts confirmed that they were not complying with the universal indoor masking requirement," ISBE spokeswoman Jackie Matthews wrote in a statement. "These districts now have the opportunity to meet with ISBE and to submit a corrective action plan to address the deficiencies that are presenting a danger to students and staff."