 February 18 , 2003
The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (EED) notified school superintendents last week that the superintendents had signed an assurance stating their school district was in compliance with the school prayer requirement. The assurance was in the "assurances and certifications section" of the district's FY 2003 consolidated application for federal funding submitted to EED. "If the assurances and certifications in your packet were correctly initialed and signed, nothing further is required (of your district) at this time," EED Title I Administrator Eric Madsen wrote school superintendents on February 11th. To receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, school districts as of 2003 are required to certify to the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (EED) that no school district policy prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools as set forth in the guidance. As stated in the guidance, "the First Amendment forbids religious activity that is sponsored by the government but protects religious activity that is initiated by private individuals" such as students. Therefore, "[a]mong other things, students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other noninstructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities."
USDOE Guidance:
Source of News Release:
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