FTC Intervention Shows Lipscomb Academy's Speech-Restricting Code Violates Consumer Rights
Source: M.D. Kittle. "FTC Tells 'Woke' Christian School To Rethink Its Code Of Conduct." March 13, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
A Christian school created a policy forbidding parents from publicly criticizing the school, but the Federal Trade Commission stepped in and told them this violates consumer protection laws. Since parents pay tuition, they have the legal right to share their honest opinions about the school's services and decisions.
Conclusion
Lipscomb Academy's new code of conduct that prohibits parents from publicly criticizing the school violates federal consumer protection law and represents an unlawful attempt to silence legitimate criticism
Premises
- The FTC Chairman has officially advised Lipscomb Academy to review its code of conduct for compliance with the Consumer Review Fairness Act
- The code of conduct prohibits parents from publicly disparaging, speculating about, or criticizing school personnel decisions or matters
- The Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016 protects consumers' First Amendment rights to share honest opinions about businesses, including private schools
- Parents pay over $24,000 per year for services, making them consumers entitled to legal protections
- The policy was implemented shortly after The Federalist began investigating allegations about the school's ideological direction
- Parents report being forced to sign the policy just before enrollment deadlines, creating coercive conditions
- The school threatened legal action against The Federalist for investigating parent concerns about the institution's direction
Assumptions
- Private schools that charge tuition are subject to consumer protection laws
- Parents have legitimate interests in publicly discussing their children's educational institutions
- The timing of the policy implementation indicates intent to suppress criticism
- Federal consumer protection law supersedes private institutional speech policies
- The FTC's intervention validates the parents' legal concerns