Families at Key Biscayne K-8 Center, MAST Academy and George Washington Carver Middle School can now pull their children out of class for off-site religious instruction without penalty, under a state rule that took effect June 17.
The Florida State Board of Education approved the policy at a May 14 meeting in Miami-Dade County, requiring all districts to grant excused absences when parents request time for religious instruction or religious holidays. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier backed the change with a legal opinion finding that some districts had been issuing "blanket denials" for such requests.
The rule is the latest in a series of state actions expanding religious expression in public schools.
State Adds Complaint Process for Prayer-Related Concerns
Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas sent a letter to all Florida parents in March reminding them that prayer and religious expression are permitted in public schools. The letter also introduced a new complaint process: Parents who believe their children's rights to pray or express faith at school are not being honored can file complaints directly with the Florida Department of Education.
At the May 14 meeting, Kamoutsas said the religious instruction absence rule was "near and dear to his heart" and balances rigorous classroom instruction with giving parents the option to expose their children to religious instruction.
A Collier County Parent Raises Scheduling Concerns
Collier County parent Amy Perwien of the Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida raised concerns at the same meeting. "How disruptive will leaving and returning to school be for classroom learning?" she asked. "What additional scheduling problems will be created by this rule?"
The Miami-Dade County School Board also voted this year for the fifth consecutive year to recognize the National Day of Prayer across the district's schools, according to the Miami Herald. The exact date and vote tally were not reported.
Polling Shows Support for Voluntary Prayer, Not Mandatory Participation
A Pew Research Center survey released June 22 found that 78% of U.S. adults favor allowing students to voluntarily pray in student-led groups. Half approve of displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. But support drops when participation becomes mandatory: Only 8% of those who favor teacher-led prayer want it required for students.
"The vast majority said, 'Oh, well, teachers should be able to lead their classes in prayer, but only if students are not required to participate,'" said Chip Rotolo, the Pew research associate who led the study.
A separate Pew survey of nearly 37,000 adults conducted in 2023-24 found that 56% of Floridians favor allowing teachers to lead prayers referencing Jesus, and 62% support teacher-led prayers referencing God without naming a specific religion.
Texas Mandates Bible Reading as Florida Watches
Meanwhile, the Texas State Board of Education voted 9-5 on June 26 to make Bible passages required reading for public school students starting in the 2030-31 school year. The Miami Herald reported that Florida officials have signaled interest in similar measures, though no legislation has been introduced.
Families with questions about the new religious instruction absence policy can file complaints through the Florida Department of Education's process established in March.
