California
A community member from Hart-Ransom Academic Charter School in Modesto, Calif., reported that the school’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony included a scheduled prayer. The invocation was listed in the graduation program, and the complainant reported that the school principal welcomed the audience with a speech containing multiple religious references, including a reference to “the grace of God.”
“The district must ensure that all future graduations do not include school-sponsored prayers or inappropriate religious remarks in order to respect the First Amendment rights of students and their families,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to Superintendent Matthew Shipley.
Shipley wrote back in August, addressing the concerns of FFRF’s complainant, and thanking FFRF for bringing the situation to his attention. “We have consulted with legal counsel regarding your concerns. Future commencement ceremonies in the district will not include school-sponsored prayer, and will include only appropriate remarks,” he wrote.
