Boards of trustees in Manor ISD, Hays CISD and San Marcos CISD passed resolutions against dedicating time for prayer.
AUSTIN, Texas — On Monday night, three more Central Texas school districts voted against setting aside time for prayer each day.
Boards of trustees in Manor ISD, Hays CISD and San Marcos CISD passed resolutions against dedicating time for prayer.
Under a new state law, school boards are required to vote on the issue. It is the result of Senate Bill 11, passed by state lawmakers during the regular legislative session last year.
If time for prayer is added, parents must opt in for their kids to participate, and the dedicated prayer time cannot interfere with instruction time.
The daily period cannot advance or inhibit a specific religion, and it can’t be coercive, so if districts adopt the policy, students and staff who consent will be able to pray however they choose or read whatever religious text they choose.
Schools have until March 1 to decide what to do.
Liberty Hill ISD, Bastrop ISD and Lake Travis ISD also recently voted against it.