Supreme Court’s Free Speech Decision: What Schools Must Know

The Supreme Court ruled that some employee religious speech is allowed in schools. Learn how to update your policies and practices.

On June 27, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a former high school football coach in western Washington who lost his job after kneeling to pray on the 50-yard line after games. They held that individual prayers by a school employee differ from the prohibited teaching of religion to students. The decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist. has implications for schools nationwide and needs your immediate attention.

As the new school year begins, you need to understand what speech is allowed in educational environments and discover its most recent interpretation. Policies and practices must ensure that employees engaging in personal religious observances are free from reprisal.

• How does the decision affect employee speech in schools?
• How will this decision impact religious practices by employees?
• What actions can schools take to address religious actions by employees?
• How should you update policies?
• What tests can help determine the appropriateness of speech?
• How can schools avoid Establishment Clause violations while allowing speech?