Free Exercise in Public Schools

The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

Religious Liberty issue image

What's at Stake

Religious liberty in public schools protects students’ voluntary ability to pray and express religious viewpoints, provided that they do not cause a disruption or interfere with the education of other students. Students have the right to pray individually or in groups, express their religious beliefs in homework and artwork where those beliefs are germane to the assignment, read religious literature during student activity times, form religious clubs in secondary school and have equal access to campus media to announce their meetings, and wear T-shirts with religious messages.

The ACLU vigorously defends the rights of all Americans, including public school students, to practice their religion and express their faith. Here are examples of our advocacy over the past 15 years on behalf of students of a variety of faiths.

Religious liberty in public schools protects students’ voluntary ability to pray and express religious viewpoints, provided that they do not cause a disruption or interfere with the education of other students. Students have the right to pray individually or in groups, express their religious beliefs in homework and artwork where those beliefs are germane to the assignment, read religious literature during student activity times, form religious clubs in secondary school and have equal access to campus media to announce their meetings, and wear T-shirts with religious messages.

The ACLU vigorously defends the rights of all Americans, including public school students, to practice their religion and express their faith. Here are examples of our advocacy over the past 15 years on behalf of students of a variety of faiths.

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