From the ECS State Policy Database Religion

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary IL Signed into law 08/2012 Postsec. Postsecondary Students and Religious Observance S.B. 2949 Requires that any student who, because of his/her religious beliefs, is unable to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study... More... TN Vetoed 05/2012 Postsec. Student Organizations S.B. 3597 Prohibits state higher education institutions and private institutions receiving more than $24 million in state subsidies from denying equal... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 Postsec. "Undue Hardship" in Terms of Rescheduling College Exam to Accommodate Religious Observance A.B. 668 Defines "undue hardship" for purposes of allowing a student at a California State University campus to take an exam when that activity would... More... OH Signed into law 06/2011 Postsec. Prohibition of Denying Benefits to a Religious Student Group H.B. 153 - Prohibition of Denying Benefits to a Religious Student Group Prohibits a state institution of higher education from taking any action or enforcing any policy that would deny a religious student group a... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2011 Postsec. Community College Religious Discrimation H.B. 2565 Prohibits public universities and community colleges from discriminating against, adopting policies that penalize or punish, or withholding ... More... NC Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Postsec. Community College Excused Absences For Religious Observances H.B. 357 Requires principals, community colleges and universities to authorize a minimum of two excused absences each academic year for religious obs... More... SC Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act S.B. 134 Requires school districts to treat a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject in... More... OK Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 High School Course on the Bible H.B. 2321 Authorizes districts to offer an elective high school course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and its impact and an elective course ... More... AZ Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Religious liberty H.B. 2357 Creates the Students' Religious Liberties Act; prohibits a public educational institution from discriminating against students or parents on... More... OK Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Founding Documents; Religious Materials H.B. 1756 Directs each school district to adopt a policy, with grade-level-appropriate instructional levels, that assures that all students are encour... More... LA Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Science Education and Instruction S.B. 733 Creates the Science Education Act; relates to curriculum and instruction in public elementary and secondary schools; provides that, upon req... More... TN Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Nonreligious Academic Study of the Bible S.B. 4104 Authorizes the state board of education to approve a curriculum for an elective state-funded course of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic... More... VA Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Religious Viewpoints H.B. 1135 From fiscal impact statement: Provides that a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint in homework, artwork or other written ... More... KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Transportation of Nonpublic School Students H.B. 655 By September 30 of each year, requires the secretary of the transportation cabinet to report to the general assembly's interim committee on ... More... NJ Signed into law 03/2008 Postsec. Community College Alternative Testing Arrangements S.B. 1023 Pertains to institutions of higher education. Requires alternative testing arrangements be provided to certain students unable to attend tes... More... IL Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 10/2007 P-12 Period of Silence S.B. 1463 Amends the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Provides that a teacher must observe a brief period of silence at the opening of every ... More... SC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Teaching History and Literature of the Old Testament S.B. 726 Provides that the board of trustees of any state school district may offer an elective course teaching the history and literature of the Old... More... TX Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Religious Expression at School H.B. 3678 Clarifies the first amendment rights of students at school by codifying current court decisions regarding religious expression and by author... More... TX Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Elective Course in Religion H.B. 1287 Authorizes districts to offer to students in grade nine or above an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and its impact ... More... MI Signed into law 09/2006 Postsec. Community College Religious College State Regulation Exemption H.B. 6016 Exempts religious colleges from state regulation of educational programs offering degrees, diplomas or certificates based on education beyon... More... MI Signed into law 09/2006 Postsec. Community College Religious or Ecclesiastical Educational Corporations H.B. 6014 Revises the provisions of existing law regulating educational corporations; provides for an educational corporation classification to includ... More... NY Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Assessments on days of Religious Observation A.B. 11550 Directs the board of regents to schedule any state mandated examinations on days other than days of religious observation.... More... OH Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Posting of Ohio and U.S. Mottos H.B. 184 Requires school districts and community schools that receive donated copies of mottoes of the United State of America or the state of Ohio t... More... GA Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Courses on the Old and New Testament S.B. 79 Authorizes high schools to offer elective courses in the History and Literature of the Old Testament Era and the History and Literature of t... More... VA Vetoed 04/2006 P-12 Guidelines for Graduation Ceremonies H.B. 493 Relates to high school baccalaureate ceremonies; includes school division sanctioning of high school baccalaureate ceremonies among the pray... More... VA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Comparative Religion Class Authority S.B. 62, H.B. 215 Reallocates the duty to authorize a comparative religion class from local school boards to the Board of Education. In the process of revisin... More... NV Died 03/2006 P-12 Truth in Science Initiative Initiative Petition The Truth in Science Initiative (Initiative) proposes to add a new section to the Constitution regarding how evolution is to be taught in th... More... GA Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Prayer and Private Schools H.B. 678 Provides that state law may not prohibit a private school from conducting a prayer prior to an athletic event held on the campus of the priv... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Curriculum Excusal on Religious Grounds A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Provides that if any part of a school's instruction in health conflicts with the religious training and beliefs of a parent or guardian of a... More... OK Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 In God We Trust and E Pluribus Unum H.B. 2477 Part of this bill adds a new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 24-106.1 of Title 70, unless there is created... More... TX Signed into law 06/2003 Postsec. Religious Holy Day Excused Absences H.B. 256 Relates to excused absences for religious holy days for students in institutions of higher education. An institution of higher education mu... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Postsec. United States National Motto Display in Schools H.B. 219 Relates to the display of the United States national motto in public elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education.... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Observance of One Minute of Silence S.B. 83 Relates to the observance of one minute of silence during the school day in public schools; provides the board of trustees of each school di... More... TX Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Observance of One Minute of Silence S.B. 83 Requires the board of trustees of each school district to provide for the observance of one minute of silence during each school day at each... More... ND Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 National Motto in Schools H.B. 1325 Allows the display of the national motto "In God We Trust" in schools. http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/58-2003/bill_text/DBBK0300.pdf... More... KY Signed into law 03/2003 Postsec. Student Financial Aid H.B. 40 Deletes references that prohibit the use of student financial aid funds, including Education Excellence Scholarship funds, for students who ... More... UT Adopted 09/2002 P-12 Patriotic Education R277-475 Requires Utah public schools to display the United States national motto, consistent with state law. UTAH REG 25218 (SN)... More... IL Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Silent Reflection Act H.B. 4117 Amends the Silent Reflection Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. Allows students in the... More... SC Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Graduation Messages H.B. 4683 Authorizes the governing body of a school board or school district to adopt a policy that permits the use of a brief opening or closing mess... More... OK Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Moment of Silence S.B. 815 The each board of education is required to ensure that the public schools within the district observe approximately one minute of silence ea... More... FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Education Code Re-Write: Federal Religious Expression in Public Schools Guidelines S.B. 20E Requires department to annually distribute to all local board members, superintendents principals and teachers the complete guidelines on "R... More... MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Postsec. Purchasing of Materials for Private K-12 and Postsecondary Schools H.B. 779 Authorizes the Department of General Services to purchase materials, supplies and equipment on behalf of specified private elementary and se... More... OH Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Moment of Silence H.B. 394 Permits the board of education of a school district to provide for a period of silence each school day for reflection or meditation upon a m... More... LA Vetoed 04/2002 P-12 Voluntary Student Prayer in Bossier Parish H.B. 22A Forbids any public elementary or secondary school student in Bossier Parish to be prohibited from participating in voluntary, student-initia... More... LA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Silent Prayer or Meditation H.B. 13A Requires that school prayer or meditation be silent.... More... AL Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 The Use of "In God We Trust" in Schools. S.J.R. 86 Urges the State Superintendent of Education and State Board of Education to encourage principals and teachers in public schools to display t... More... VA Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Posting "In God We Trust" H.B. 108, S.B. 608 Requires all school boards to post the statement, "In God We Trust, the national motto, enacted by Congress in 1956," prominently and in a c... More... OK Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance S.B. 128 Relates to schools; designates November 11 as Veterans Day; requires public schools to conduct and observe Veterans Day programs; allows sch... More... AL Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Quiet Reflection H.B. 200 Relates to school athletic events and graduation ceremonies; provides a brief period of quiet reflection required at the opening of school a... More... MT Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Student Release Time For Religious Instruction H.B. 272 Allows a school district to be determine the amount of time for which a student may be released from school for religious instruction.... More... ND Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Ten Commandments S.B. 2177 Relates to the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and public school buildings and events.... More... ND Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Religious and secular speech in schools H.B. 1437 Relates to religious and secular speech in schools and repeals section relating to periods of silence during a school day.... More... MS Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Requirement for Daily Period of Quiet Reflection H.B. 51 Authorizes a brief period of quiet reflection in public school classrooms; authorizes and directs principals and teachers in public elementa... More... VA Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Religion Classes S.B. 1391 Requires the Board of Education to authorize, as an elective in grades 9 through 12 with appropriate credits toward graduation, a comparativ... More... FL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Postsec. Community/Faith Based Cooperation S.B. 406 Creates Community and Faith-based Organizations initiative within Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at Florida Agricultural and Mechan... More... IN Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Ten Commandments H.B. 1180 Authorizes the display of the Ten Commandments on real property owned by the state or a political subdivision as part of an exihibit display... More... KY Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Ten Commandments and Other Historical documents S.J.R. 57 Requests the Kentucky Board Of Education to encourage teachers and school administrators to post and teach from historic displays of origina... More... VA Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Moment of Silence/Prayer S.B. 209 Requires school boards to establish daily moments of silence for meditation, prayer or other silent activity in every classroom in the publi... More... SD Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Ten Commandments H.B. 1261 Permits schools to display the Ten Commandments.... More... KY Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Ten Commandments H.B. 662 Requires a liability insurer to pay according to the terms of the policy an insured who is sued for posting the Ten Commandments in a public... More...