Background: HB231 proposes an amendment to the Alabama Constitution that would require all public K-12 schools to begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer "consistent with Judeo-Christian values.”. The bill mandates that all local school boards adopt policies enforcing this requirement, and it grants the State Superintendent of Education the authority to investigate any reported violations. Schools that fail to comply could face severe financial penalties, including a 25% reduction in state funding, with additional cuts determined by the Legislature if noncompliance persists.
Our Position: We oppose HB 231. The ACLU of Alabama affirms the First Amendment rights of citizens of the United States, including students. The First Amendment guarantees that students and their families—not the government—decide which religious beliefs, if any, they choose to follow. Students should have the freedom to recite (or to not recite) the pledge. The U.S. Constitution allows for students and school employees to engage in private prayer during the school day, but students and school employees cannot be compelled, coerced, persuaded, or encouraged to join in prayer or other religious activity. HB231 is not only unconstitutional but also creates a hostile educational environment for students who do not adhere to state-sanctioned religious practices.
