Overview of the Resolution
Senate Bill 11 permits school districts to set aside time for students and staff who wish to participate in voluntary prayer or religious reading. Participation requires written parental consent, and the period must be held outside instructional time in a location where nonparticipants are not present or able to hear.
Districts are required to vote on whether to adopt the resolution by March 1, but implementation is optional.
Reasons for the Decision
Lake Travis ISD General Counsel Chad Crowson explained that current state and federal law already allows voluntary religious expression in schools, as long as it is not disruptive. The SB 11 resolution adds administrative requirements, including tracking consent, scheduling, and providing separate spaces for nonparticipants, which the district would need to manage without additional funding.
Eanes ISD followed the recommendation of its administration, noting that existing policies already permit voluntary prayer and religious expression on school grounds.
Board members highlighted that declining the resolution does not affect students’ or staff members’ ability to pray or read religious texts on their own during the school day.
