Trustees from a handful of Tarrant County districts recently voted not to create a daily period for voluntary prayer in public school classrooms stressing that students already have religious rights.<\/p>\n
Lake Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw, Mansfield and Castleberry join a growing list<\/a> of Texas districts declining the option in a vote a new state law<\/a> requires of every Texas public school board by March 1. So far two area districts \u2014 Keller and Aledo \u2014 adopted the prayer period.<\/p>\n A new Texas law requires trustees to take a recorded vote<\/a> in a public meeting on whether to establish the designated prayer period in public schools.\u00a0<\/p>\n If districts adopt the period, they must set aside time during the school day for students to pray or read religious texts in segregated spaces. Parents would have to consent and waive their right to sue over constitutional claims related to the policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Feb. 16, Lake Worth trustees unanimously rejected the prayer period after administrators explained how students already have broad rights to religious expression under existing law and district policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur students do have the right to have self-expression,\u201d said Sylonda Burns, executive director of campus leadership and school improvement.<\/p>\n Students may pray individually or in groups before, during or after school and may read religious texts on campus \u2014 practices allowed under federal and state law, Burns noted. It would also cause logistical issues, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo just like you have eight periods a day, now you would have like 8.5,\u201d Burns said, describing the scheduling impact.<\/p>\n Trustees said they received no complaints about current practices and that religious expression has long been accommodated on campuses.<\/p>\n \u201cPrayer has never been taken away from this district,\u201d trustee Cindy Burt said. \u201cWe\u2019ve always let students do what they believe.\u201d<\/p>\n The next night, Mansfield ISD trustees unanimously rejected the separate period as well.<\/p>\n The vote came under the consent agenda, which allows elected officials to vote on multiple items in a single vote without discussion.<\/p>\n The resolution to decline a new policy cited local policies already in Mansfield ISD regarding student-led prayer and religious groups and state laws regarding prayer before the Texas and U.S. pledges as reasons a new policy is not needed.<\/p>\n Board president Benita Reed was not available for a comment in time of publication.<\/p>\n HEB ISD leaders reached the same conclusion in their own vote Feb. 9<\/a>. EMS ISD trustees voted it down Jan. 20.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy kids, and the kids we have on campus, have always been able to pray on campus,\u201d said Ron Franklin, an EMS ISD trustee who taught at Boswell High School for 30 years. \u201cI just want to make it clear: We are 100% in favor of prayer in schools. We\u2019re not thinking about restricting it to one class period.\u201d<\/p>\n The law does not require districts to adopt the prayer time, but it mandates that every school board publicly decide whether to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand the government coming in, controlling,\u201d Burt said.<\/p>\n Texas law on prayer period in public schools outlines requirements should districts approve the time:<\/p>\n Participation requires signed parental consent with families waiving the right to sue over constitutional claims. Keller and Aledo trustees<\/a> \u2014 in 4-3 and 5-0 votes, respectively \u2014 approved the prayer period<\/a> in late-2025. Supporters argued the vote affirms religious liberty.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not forcing anyone to participate \u2014 it\u2019s giving them a place to participate if they so choose,\u201d Keller ISD trustee Chris Coker said during the meeting ahead of the vote. \u201cI think it\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Northwest trustees unanimously rejected it<\/a> after the district\u2019s attorneys said existing law already protects religious expression on campus. Everman ISD also voted 5-0<\/a> against the extra period.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other area districts, including Fort Worth, Crowley and White Settlement, are scheduled to take up the required vote before the March 1 deadline.<\/p>\n Kennedale and Arlington ISDs will vote on the matter Thursday night during their respective board meetings.<\/p>\n Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Chris Moss is a reporter for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@arlingtonreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nPrayer and religious reading must occur in spaces separated from nonparticipants.
\nThe period cannot take place during instructional time or be broadcast to others.
\nThe Texas attorney general must defend districts against any related legal challenge.<\/p>\n