A Parents' Guide to Religion in Public School
In this article, you will find:
Student Religious Clubs
May students form religious clubs in public schools?Under the federal Equal Access Act, 4 secondary public schools receiving federal funds must allow students to form religious clubs if the school allows other non-curriculum-related clubs to meet during non-instructional time. "Non-curriculum-related" means any club not directly related to the courses offered by the school. Student religious clubs may have access to school facilities and media on the same basis as other non-curriculum-related student clubs.
The Equal Access Act protects the rights of students to form religious clubs. Outside adults may not direct or regularly attend meetings of such clubs. Teachers may be present at religious club meetings as monitors, but they may not participate in club activities.
Public schools are free to prohibit any club activities that are illegal or that would cause substantial disruption of the school.
May students be excused from parts of the curriculum for religious reasons?
Whenever possible, school officials should try to accommodate the requests of parents and students for excusal from classroom discussions or activities for religious reasons. If focused on a specific discussion, assignment, or activity, such
requests should be routinely granted in order to strike a balance between the student's religious freedom and the school's interest in providing a well-rounded education.
Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 3 if it is proved that particular lessons substantially burden a student's free exercise of religion and if the school cannot prove a compelling interest in requiring attendance, the school would be legally required to excuse the student.