New Law Allows More Religious Expression By Ohio Public School Students

Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a law that allows students in public schools to express their religious beliefs.

The Student Religious Liberties Act removes a provision in current law limiting expressions of religious beliefs by public school students to lunch and non-instructional periods and would allow them to gather as students do for secular activities.

It also says schools can’t prohibit students from religious expression in homework, artwork or other assignments and teachers cannot penalize or reward work based on its religious content.

Republican Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) says if the choir can announce there’s practice after school, a religious-based club will be allowed to do the same. However he says there are limits.

“Students couldn’t get on the p.a. to say ‘Now we are all going to pray together’ just as the students in the choir could not say ‘We are all going to sing together,'" Huffman said.

Critics of the bill have said the U.S. Constitution and state law already guarantee religious liberties to students and that school guidelines should be decided by local district officials.

The Senate passed the bill unanimously. It had faced opposition in the House, but 18 amendments were added to help schools with the coronavirus pandemic.

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