Ohio Gov. Signs Bill Protecting Students’ ‘Religious Expression’ at School, in Homework

A bill that protects the religious expression of public school students throughout the school day and even with homework and other assignments was signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last week.

The Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act, which passed the Senate 32-0 and the House 90-3, says public school students “may engage in religious expression before, during, and after school hours in the same manner and to the same extent” that “a student is permitted to engage in secular activities or expression before, during, and after school hours.”

Further, the new law prevents school districts from prohibiting a student from “engaging in religious expression in the completion of homework, artwork, or other written or oral assignments.” Teachers “shall not penalize or reward a student based on the religious content of a student’s work,” the law says.

“Grades and scores shall be calculated using ordinary academic standards,” the law says.

The law defines “religious expression” as:

• Prayer.
• “Religious gatherings, including but not limited to prayer groups, religious clubs, ‘see you at the pole’ gatherings, or other religious gatherings.”
• “Distribution of written materials or literature of a religious nature.”
• “Any other activity of a religious nature, including wearing symbolic clothing or expression of a religious viewpoint, provided that the activity is not obscene,…