An eastern Nebraska family has lost its court challenge to a state requirement that public schools set aside time for the Pledge of Allegiance.

A  judge ruled earlier this week that the Stanosheck family, of Springfield, didn’t sufficiently state what injury the parents and their three children suffered because of the state rule.

The rule that went into effect Sept. 15 mandates that schoolchildren in kindergarten through 12th grade recite the pledge daily in the presence of a flag. But students who don’t wish to may stand or sit quietly instead.

In December attorney Kevin Stanosheck filed a petition for declaratory judgment on behalf of his wife and their children.

His petition says the Nebraska Education Department had acted beyond its authority.