<\/p>\n
Senate Bill 11, passed during the 2025 legislative session, requires Texas school boards to weigh a decision on creating a prayer policy by March 1. <\/p>\n
Jessica Kourkounis<\/p>\n
Special to the Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
The Fort Worth Independent School District is joining at least seven other Tarrant County districts in rejecting the adoption of a new prayer policy.<\/p>\n
The school board voted 7-1 on Tuesday night against the policy after a new state law, Senate Bill 11, required all Texas school boards to vote by March 1 to decide if they wanted to adopt such a policy.<\/p>\n
Fort Worth ISD staff advised against creating a new policy because one already exists that allows students to engage in prayer and religious observance at school. Board member Kevin Lynch was the lone dissenter, and there was no board discussion on the topic besides clarifying questions on the motion.<\/p>\n
Several people spoke during public comment on the agenda item, all urging the school board to reject Senate Bill 11. Clergy members, parents and grandparents were among the public speakers.<\/p>\n
Sheri Allen, cantor and co-founder of Makom Shelanu synagogue in Fort Worth, called the law another attempt to dismantle the wall between church and state. She voiced concerns about the policy creating social pressure and exclusion for students who don\u2019t want to participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my children were young, they were pressured by other students to convert to Christianity, and felt ostracized and othered,\u201d Allen said. \u201cIt was traumatic and had no place in the school environment. Mandatory prayer time will only exacerbate this tension and force children to either comply to fit in with the dominant Christian culture or to remain excluded from many of their peers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen is also the committee chair of the Justice Network of Tarrant County.<\/p>\n
Janet Mattern, president of the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County, said it\u2019s the responsibility of parents rather than schools to determine religious teachings for children.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe oppose any mandated period for religion in our schools,\u201d she said. \u201cOur schools are entrusted to care for every student, regardless of immigration status, religious or non-religious belief or background.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fort Worth ISD\u2019s existing policy allows students to silently pray or meditate in school as long as it doesn\u2019t disrupt instruction or other school activities. Students can\u2019t be \u201crequired or coerced to engage in or refrain\u201d from religious practices during school activities, and students can\u2019t be discriminated against based on their religious views.<\/p>\n
Students are able to organize prayer groups and religious clubs or gatherings before, during and after the school day in Fort Worth ISD.<\/p>\n
Districts implementing a prayer policy under Senate Bill 11, the new law with the March 1 deadline, require parents to sign consent forms waiving their right to sue districts on the basis of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prevents governments from establishing a religion. Policies under this law also require that students\u2019 religious observance be done outside the presence of other students without signed consent forms.<\/p>\n
The Grapevine-Colleyville school board on Monday<\/a> rejected the creation of a policy in alignment with Senate Bill 11, also stating the district already had a policy allowing students to engage in prayer and religious observance during the school day. The school boards of Arlington, Everman, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Kennedale, Lake Worth, Mansfield and Northwest ISDs have also voted against the new prayer policy. Keller and Aledo ISD officials have approved the prayer policy.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
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