A Las Vegas family is fighting to keep their 15-year-old son with special needs enrolled at Faith Lutheran High School, after the private school told them not to bring him back and a judge stepped in to let him keep attending while the dispute plays out in court. Mitchell Stipp Jr., who has a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, had been part of the school's special education program for years before the arrangement fell apart this year.
Mitchell was initially diagnosed with PDD-NOS, and before he turned 3, he had already been to four different speech therapists, according to KTNV. He later became part of Faith Lutheran's Mark 10:14 program, which the school describes as designed to serve middle and high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in an inclusive Christian setting. Students in the program take part in general education classes alongside typical peers while receiving a high level of individualized support, and come to the Mark 10:14 room for one-on-one instruction in reading, writing and math when parts of a lesson fall outside their reach, the program's page states.
A Schedule That Worked, Until It Didn't
For three years, Faith Lutheran allowed Mitchell to start his school days between 10 and 10:15 a.m., a later start he used for morning doctor appointments and private tutoring. The station's report notes that arrangement worked smoothly for three years — until, within three days of Mitchell starting high school, the family was told he could no longer use the previously agreed schedule.
On August 10, Faith Lutheran issued what it called a final decision, telling the family it was unable to offer a modified schedule and asking them to evaluate whether the school remained the best fit for Mitchell's current medical and educational needs. The school gave the family until the end of the day on August 14 to say whether Mitchell would continue as a student. The Faith Lutheran CEO reportedly then told the family Mitchell could continue attending as before, per the same account.
The Behavioral Plan at the Center of the Dispute
Faith Lutheran later presented the family with a behavioral plan that required Mitchell to be removed for the day if he engaged in a single act of stimming, and called for reconsidering whether the school remained appropriate for him after four such instances. Mitchell Stipp Sr. rejected the plan and said the family would pursue remedies in court. Faith Lutheran subsequently told the family not to bring Mitchell to school anymore and sent them a withdrawal form request.
The Stipps say they have since received court support in recent legal filings, and a judge allowed Mitchell to continue attending Faith Lutheran under the original agreement while the case proceeds. Mitchell Stipp Sr. said the Mark 10:14 program may not be what it advertises and could change. Faith Lutheran declined an on-camera interview and, after initially agreeing to answer follow-up questions, stopped responding to them.
Dueling Accounts of the Lawsuit's Purpose
Faith Lutheran said the parents demanded a significant financial settlement and threatened press involvement, but said it would continue in its mission to provide meaningful, Christ-centered educational opportunities, individualized support and an inclusive school experience. The Stipps dispute that characterization of the lawsuit as a form of financial gain. Mitchell Stipp Sr. said any damages from a settlement or trial would be placed in trust for the benefit of the Mark 10:14 program, and that the claim of damages was required by the causes of action listed in the complaint.
The Mark 10:14 program takes its name from the Bible verse Mark 10:14, which states, “Let the children come; do not hinder them.” Faith Lutheran describes the program as an inclusive, Christ-centered environment for middle and high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with educators and student mentors providing intensive individualized curriculum modifications that allow students to take part in general education classes and campus activities. For the 2026–2027 school year, tuition for a Mark 10:14 student is set at 100% of Faith Lutheran's standard tuition rate, according to the program's page.
How Other Disability Disputes at Schools Have Played Out
The Stipps' case echoes broader fights over how private and religious schools accommodate students with disabilities. A federal court in Louisiana ruled that a student with cerebral palsy could proceed with an ADA lawsuit against a religious school, according to Church Law & Tax. In a separate case, the Justice Department announced a settlement of a lawsuit filed to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act against Nobel Learning Communities, a private, for-profit network operating more than 180 preschools, elementary schools and secondary schools nationwide, per the Department of Justice.
For now, Mitchell remains able to attend Faith Lutheran under the original agreement while the litigation continues, per the judge's order. Both sides continue to dispute the underlying purpose of the lawsuit as the case moves forward.
