Department of Education clarifies religious policies in schools

Ady Hammock editor@riverbendnews.org The Florida Department of Education’s (FDOE) Commissioner of Education, Anastasios Kamoutsas, sent out a letter on Tuesday, March 17, to parents of students regarding religion and prayer in public schools. The United States Department of Education (USED) has shared updated guidance to state and local schools regarding the current laws on prayer and religious expression in public schools. Kamoutsas said in his letter that “students, teachers and other school employees retain constitutional rights to religious expression, including individual prayer.” Examples of these policies include treating religious speech, organizations and assignments such a