Tag: school prayer

A new state law requiring Texas school boards to vote on whether they will allow students to pray and read religious texts during the school day is up for consideration in Fort Worth on Tuesday night.

Fort Worth ISD staff is recommending the board vote no, because the district already has a policy allowing students to pray and engage in religious expression during the school day and on school property.

Senate Bill 11, passed during last year’s legislative session, requires Texas school boards to weigh a decision on creating a prayer policy by March 1.

Fort Worth ISD’s existing policy says “a public school student has an absolute right to individually, voluntarily, and silently pray or meditate in school in a manner that does not disrupt the instructional or other activities of the school. A student shall not be required or coerced to engage in or refrain from such prayer or meditation during any school activity.”

The policy also allows students to organize prayer groups and religious clubs or gatherings before, during and after the school day. A student’s religious viewpoint must be treated the same way as a student’s secular viewpoint, and district officials are barred from discriminating against a student based on their religious views.

The restrictions of a new policy, as outlined in Senate Bill 11, require parents to submit a consent form waiving their right to take legal action against the district in regards to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prevents the government from establishing a religion. Students must also engage in the prayer or reading outside the presence of a student who doesn’t have a signed consent form.

The Fort Worth ISD school board meets at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.