Public schools across the country will be opening their doors to students soon, which means it’s a good time to brush up on what’s allowed and what’s not when it comes to religion in public education.
Thankfully, Americans United has just what you need. Our “Know Your Rights” guides have been updated and are available here.
AU has three guides – one for students, one for parents and one for teachers. The guides make it clear that, despite what Christian Nationalists often claim, public schools don’t have to be “religion-free” zones.
Students can engage in voluntary religious activity, such as praying over their lunch, reading religious books during free time and discussing religion with friends, as long as those activities aren’t disruptive. Public schools can teach about religion from an objective standpoint as long as the purpose is to educate, not indoctrinate.
Equal treatment is also important. If a public school allows student-run religious clubs, it must also allow LGBTQ-themed clubs or clubs hosted by secular groups – even if some people have religious objections.
Here’s something that’s not allowed: coercion. If teachers, administrators or other school officials are pressuring students to pray, read the Bible or take part in other worship activities, that’s a problem.
Americans United knows there can be some gray areas, and that this area of law can be complicated for laypeople. That’s in part why we produced the guides. Please read them and share them widely. And if you encounter what you believe is an inappropriate form of religious activity in a public school, let Americans United know about it. We may be able to help.
