According to Florida’s Senate Bill 436 (laws.flrules.org/2017/74), a school district may not discriminate against a student, parent, or school personnel on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression.
Pertaining to Students
- A student may express his or her religious beliefs in coursework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination.
- A student may wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display a religious message or symbol in the same manner and to the same extent that secular types of clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted to be worn.
- A student may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expression before, during, and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that a student may engage in secular activities or expression
Pertaining to Faculty Members
- A school district may not prevent school personnel from participating in religious activities on school grounds that are initiated by students at reasonable times before or after the school day if such activities are voluntary and do not conflict with the responsibilities or assignments of such personnel.
Pertaining to Club Meetings
- A school district shall give a religious group access to the same school facilities for assembling as given to secular groups without discrimination based on the religious content of the group’s expression.
- A group that meets for prayer or other religious speech may advertise or announce its meetings in the same manner and to the same extent that a secular group may advertise or announce its meetings.
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