Andrews v. Drew Municipal Separate School District

In 1972, the superintendent of the Drew Municipal Separate School District (district) (defendant) implemented a policy that disqualified parents of an illegitimate child from employment within the school system. The superintendent adopted the policy in response to learning that some of the teacher aides had illegitimate children. The purpose of the policy was to promote morality, ensure teachers modeled moral behavior, and prevent student pregnancy. The coordinator of elementary instruction for the district was tasked with investigating current employees and applicants to determine whether the individual was in violation of the policy. Katie Mae Andrews (plaintiff), aware of the policy, did not indicate she was the mother of an illegitimate child when applying for a job. However, after the coordinator investigated, Andrews was informed that she would not be considered for the position due to the policy. Lestine Rogers (plaintiff), also a mother of an illegitimate child, was already employed as a teacher aide prior to the policy. The coordinator informed Rogers that the district would not rehire her the following year because of the new policy. Andrews and Rogers filed suit against the district on the ground that the policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The district court found the policy violative of the Equal Protection Clause. The district appealed.