Boulder Valley School District
Adopted: July 10, 1986
Revised: August 12, 2025, November 18, 2025
RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS
The Constitutions of the United States and Colorado require that no activity of the Boulder Valley School District shall be permitted that has the purpose or effect of advancing or inhibiting either religious belief or nonbelief; nor shall any such activity discriminate between systems of religious belief, nonbelief, or forms of worship. Neither the School District nor its Schools shall prescribe or sanction, in fact or in appearance, any form of prayer, worship, or expression of religious belief or disbelief.
These principles are grounded in the understanding that governmental participation in religious matters and even the appearance of official preference for or antagonism toward any religious belief or nonbelief is disruptive within the community, infringes upon the individual's freedom of conscience, and undermines the constitutional principles of Colorado and the United States. These principles are recognized to be of particular significance in the context of the public schools that have responsibility for children and youth.
A. Neutrality
Neither the School District nor its employees shall promote or disparage any religious belief or nonbelief. The School District shall not conduct or sanction any service that is religious in nature or includes religious invocations or formal prayer. Instead, the School District encourages all students and staff members to appreciate and respect each other's religious views. The School District should utilize its opportunity to foster understanding and mutual respect among students and parents, whether it involves race, culture, economic background, or religious beliefs.
In that spirit of understanding and respect, staff members may be excused from participating in activities that are contrary to their religious beliefs unless there are clear issues of overriding concern that would prevent such excusal. Students may be excused from instruction that is contrary to their religious beliefs as detailed below. In appropriate situations, alternative activities for such persons may be provided.
B. Teaching About Religion and School Programs
The Boulder Valley School District endorses the study of religion in an objective, respectful, and cross-cultural manner and the study of the American tradition of religious liberty as an integral part of the educational program. It is essential that the teaching about and not of religion be conducted in an open, objective, and respectful manner and be timed to fit the educational objectives. Such studies should never foster any particular religious tenets or demean any religious beliefs.
The inclusion of religious music, symbols, art, or writings in school programs, performances, and celebrations may be permitted if the religious content has an independent educational purpose that contributes to the stated objectives of the approved curriculum, including exposure to and understanding of many cultures and religious expressions. Intent, effect, and timing should be considered when planning school performances and activities.
Official public school groups will not perform at events of religious worship.
C. Student Expression of Religious Belief or Nonbelief
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Students are free to express religious belief or nonbelief in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious perspective of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance, relevance, and other legitimate pedagogical objectives. Students may engage in spontaneous discussion about religion, personal prayer, or personal meditation that is not disruptive of the educational process and does not infringe upon the rights of others.
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Schools shall make reasonable efforts to be sensitive to the religious observances of students so that the required school work, including tests, does not result in undue hardships, provided that the regular and normal expectancy of school programs may be met.
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If the religious or closely held personal beliefs and teachings of a student or the student's parent/guardian are contrary to the School District’s instruction, the student may be excused from participation. "Instruction" means an oral, written, or digital lesson, lecture, or presentation given by school staff or non-school staff. Instruction does not include student speech or brief responses to student questions that arise during classes that are not part of the instruction from which the student is excused.
To receive such an excusal, the parent/guardian must present a written request for excusal from the instruction to the school principal, stating the conflict involved. The School will assure that the excusal does not result in a penalty, including in attendance, grades, or credit. If the request removes a student from a substantial amount of instruction in a class, the School and parent/guardian will discuss possible alternatives. While an alternative assignment will not always be required, there may be times that it is necessary and appropriate.
Requests for excusal regarding human sexuality shall be in accordance with Board Policy IGAE, Health Education.
Exemptions from required instruction do not excuse a student from the School District's graduation requirements.
D. School Assemblies, Religious Groups, and Use of Religious Facilities for Special Programs
Official school assemblies involving the direct participation of non-students must be justified on the basis of independent educational merit. A school assembly may include performances by groups that are affiliated with religious organizations; however, such groups and non-students in such events must not be invited for the purpose of presenting their religious commitments and shall not proselytize.
The principal or designee shall work with teachers and visitors to understand this Policy.
Religious groups may rent school facilities outside of school hours in accordance with Board policy.
Public school programs should generally occur in non-religious settings. If any school use of religious facilities is contemplated, the teacher or sponsoring educator shall provide to the principal a written justification, based on educational values and necessity to meet goals of the School District and objectives of authorized educational programs. If approved by the principal, the written statement must be filed with and supported by the appropriate Executive Director or Deputy Superintendent at the earliest practical time and prior to any announcement of programming or performances.
E. Religious Baccalaureate Services, Invocations, and Benedictions
Neither the School District nor any school of the District authorizes, sponsors, or conducts religious services. The School District shall not conduct or sanction any baccalaureate service that is religious in nature.
Parents and other groups may organize and conduct baccalaureate services that are religious in nature; however, the School District shall not be identified, explicitly or implicitly, as sponsoring or endorsing such services. Attendance at such services will be entirely voluntary with students and school personnel acting as private individuals.
F. Staff Religious Groups
Faculty or staff groups are not to use school facilities for purposes of group prayer, testimony, worship, or religious study. School bulletin boards, school mail, school materials, and equipment are not to be used to advertise or promote such purposes.