From the ECS State Policy Database Religion--Prayer/Meditation

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 FL Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Student-Delivered Inspirational Message at Student Assembly S.B. 98 Authorizes a local board to adopt a policy that allows an inspirational message to be delivered by students at a student assembly. Provides policy requirements. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0098/BillText/er/PDF... More... IL Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Postsec. Moment of Silence on Veterans' Day H.B. 972 Provides that if a public school, university, or community college holds any type of event at the institution on November 11, Veterans' Day, the governing board of the school or institution must require a moment of silence at that event to recognize Veterans' ... 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 school day with the participation of all pupils assembled. Provides that this period may not be conducted as a religious... 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 private school; and that athletic teams from public schools cannot be prohibited from participating in an athletic event hel... 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 public schools to voluntarily engage in individually initiated, non-disruptive prayer that is not sponsored, promoted, ... 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 message by a student at a high school graduation exercise; provides the conditions under which this message may be delivered... 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-initiated, student-led prayer at any time before, during or after the school day as long as such prayer is nonsectarian, nonco... 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... 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 elementary and secondary schools to display the "In God We Trust" motto of the United States of America in each classroom, schoo... More...