Overview
- Trustees acted after administrators urged a no vote, citing existing protections for student prayer and anticipated logistical and legal complications.
- Senate Bill 11 requires every Texas school board to decide by March 1 whether to create time during the school day for prayer or religious readings.
- Under SB11, any adopted policy must use non-instructional time, avoid PA systems, provide designated spaces, and rely on parent opt-in consent waivers.
- Keller and Aledo ISDs have approved designated prayer periods, while Grapevine-Colleyville and Fort Worth ISDs voted them down; Dallas ISD is scheduled to consider the measure on Thursday.
- Roughly a dozen speakers, including religious leaders, addressed the Fort Worth board, and several parents opposing the measure voiced relief after the vote.