603.8 - Teaching About Religion

 

Policy 603.08: Teaching About Religion	Status: UNDER REVIEW
Original Adopted Date: 1/9/2023 | Last Reviewed Date: 2/10/2025

 

The school district is required to keep the practice of religion out of the school curriculum.  The board recognizes the key role religion has played in the history of the world and authorizes the study of religious history and traditions as part of the curriculum.  Preferential or derogatory treatment of a single religion will not take place.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure the study of religion in the schools in keeping with the following guidelines:

• the proposed activity must have a secular purpose;
• the primary objective of the activity must not be one that advances or inhibits religion; and
• the activity must not foster excessive governmental entanglement with religion.

 

NOTE:  This policy and the accompanying regulation reflect the law on teaching religion in the public schools.

 

Legal Reference:

U.S. Const. amend. I. Lee v. Weisman. 112 S.Ct. 2649 (1992). Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971). Graham v. Central Community School District of Decatur County, 608 F.Supp. 531     (S.D. Iowa 1985). Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.6.

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 279.8	Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees
Iowa code § 280.6	Religious Books
U.S. Supreme Court	Description
112 S. Ct. 2649	Lee v Weisman (1992)
403 U.S. 602	Lemon v Kurtzman
458 U.S. 179	Board of Ed v Rowley (1982)
Case Law	Description
Graham v. Central CSD of Decatur Cnty.	608 F.Supp. 531 (S.D. Iowa 1985).
Lee v. Weisman	S.Ct. 2649 (1992)
Lemon v. Kurtzman	403 U.S. 602 (1971)

Cross References

Code	Description
604.05	Religious-Based Exclusion from A School Program
606.02	School Ceremonies and Observances