NASHVILLE (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union and the Sumner County, Tenn., Board of Education have agreed on policies to be followed in the aftermath of a suit claiming educators were promoting Christianity.
In a consent decree announced Wednesday, schools officials cannot advance their personal religious beliefs to students. Religious symbols and items may not be publicly visible to students. School officials cannot encourage or solicit prayer at school functions.
Additionally, course materials and choral music must have a clear pedagogical purpose.
An attorney for the board did not return an after-hours telephone call from The Associated Press for comment on the decree.
The ACLU claimed the school system had an unconstitutional pattern of religious activities.