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Legal Services
TASB School Law eSource
Religion in the Public Schools - TASB Resources

TASB Legal Services and other TASB divisions provide several useful resources that address religious expression in schools.

TASB Publications and Services

TASB divisions distribute several regular publications that discuss timely issues and legal developments.

  • TASB School Law Update published monthly by Legal Services includes summaries of new opinions and decisions affecting schools, including those involving religious expression, and is available for subscription. 
  • Legislative Reports published weekly by Governmental Relations includes Texas legislative updates and is available at no charge.  
  • HR Exchange published monthly by HR Services provides current news and information on issues impacting employees and is available at no charge.
  • In-district training is provided on request by a Legal Services attorney on a variety of topics including Religion in the Public Schools. 

TASB Legal Services Presentation Materials

TASB Legal Services attorneys present regularly at events across the state. Selected presentation materials:

TASB Legal Services Lone Star Articles and Other Written Materials

TASB Legal Services attorneys have published a number of TASB Lone Star articles and other written materials on the topic religious expression in schools.

TASB Recommended Policies

TASB Policy Services issues recommended policies, prepared with the assistance of Legal Services attorneys, as well as starting points to aid districts in creating local policies on such topics as the Texas Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act and student expression.

TASB policies cover several topics related to student religious expression:

  • Pledges of Allegiance and moment of silence, found at policies EC(LEGAL) and EC(LOCAL)
  • Exemption from instruction based on religious belief, found at policy EMB(LEGAL)
  • Prohibition on religious discrimination of a student, found at policy FB(LEGAL)
  • Prohibition on accepting or rejecting interdistrict transfers based on religion, found at policy FDA(LOCAL)
  • Excused absences for observing religious holy days, found at policies FEA(LEGAL), FEB(LEGAL), FEC(LEGAL), and FEC(LOCAL)
  • Exemption from certain medical assessments based on religious belief, found at policy FFAA(LEGAL)
  • Exemption from immunizations based on religious belief, found at  policy FFAB(LEGAL)
  • Prohibition on religious harassment, found at policy FFH(LOCAL)
  • Religious expression at graduation, found at policy FMH(LEGAL)
  • Religious expression generally, found at policies FNA(LEGAL) and FNA(LOCAL)
  • Distribution of materials, found at policies FNAA(LEGAL) and FNAA(LOCAL)
  • Facilities use by religious groups, found at policies FNAB(LEGAL) and FNAB(LOCAL)
  • Exemption from uniform requirements based on religious belief, found at policies FNCA(LEGAL) and FNCA(LOCAL)
  • Prohibition on religious discrimination in extracurricular standards of behavior, found at policy FO(LOCAL)

TASB policies also cover several topics related to employee religious expression:

  • Prohibition on religious discrimination in the nonrenewal of an employee, found at policies BJCF(LOCAL) and DFBB(LOCAL)
  • Prohibition on religious discrimination and harassment of an employee, found at policies DAA(LEGAL), DIA(LEGAL), and DIA(LOCAL)
  • Prohibition on denial of an attendance bonus based on an absence for observing a religious holy day, found at policy DEAA(LEGAL)
  • Absences for religious observances, found at policy DEC(LEGAL)  
  • Prohibition on religious discrimination of an employee or a student by an employee, found at policy DH(EXHIBIT)
  • Teaching about religion, found at policies EMI(LEGAL) and EMI(LOCAL)