Religious baccalaureate ceremonies will no longer be school sponsored at the Hart County Charter System in Hartwell, Ga., thanks to FFRF’s advocacy.
A student reported that each year Hart County High School sponsors and hosts a religious baccalaureate ceremony. The complainant reported that students were required to help fund the religious service with their class dues in 2023. The complainant included an image from the student handbook showing the school not only hosting the religious event, but also requiring students to pay for the event regardless of whether they wanted to attend. Additionally, the school advertised and promoted the ceremony alongside other official graduation activities on its website and official social media pages. The event was even streamed live on the school’s official Facebook page.
FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to District Superintendent Jennifer Carter outlining the violation. FFRF heard from the district’s legal counsel, Cory O. Kirby, who worked with the district to bring it more in line with the Constitution. “Ms. Carter, Superintendent, has met with high school personnel to discuss the changes required for baccalaureate next year. Those changes include no school or school employee active involvement,” Kirby wrote.
