The Trump administration moved Thursday to safeguard constitutionally protected prayer in schools, threatening districts the loss of government funds if they don’t follow the guidance.
“The right of students and teachers to freely exercise their faith will always be protected, including the right to pray,” Trump said in an Oval Office ceremony. “… We will not let anyone push God from the public square. We will uphold religious liberty for all.”
Christian leaders and religious liberty groups applauded the administration and said it could provide clarity to an issue that often sparks controversy. It is the first federal update on the issue since 2003.
The Department of Education guidance, according to a White House summary:
- Requires local educational agencies to “confirm that their policies do not prevent or interfere with the constitutionally-protected rights” outlined in the guidance — and threatens the loss of federal funds if they don’t.
- Allows individuals to file a complaint “if they are denied the ability to participate in protected religious expression.”
- Makes clear that students “can read religious texts or pray during recess and other non-instructional periods, organize prayer groups, and express their religious beliefs in their assignments.”
The guidance “will help safeguard students’ rights by giving education providers and…
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