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Public schools
Our public schools should be places where every student feels welcome regardless of their religious or nonreligious beliefs. New laws aimed at replacing school counselors with unlicensed religious chaplains, forcing public schools to post the 10 commandments, placing the Bible as part of standard learning requirements are all part of a Christian nationalist assault on our schools.
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We believe in public funds for public schools
Ensuring that every child receives a quality education is a top priority across the country. But instead of investing in high quality public schools, state and local governments are increasingly embracing funding programs that redirect taxpayer dollars away from public schools and toward private, often religious, alternatives. Interfaith Alliance works to keep public money in public schools through the National Coalition for Public Education.
Stand up to government-sponsored school prayer
We know that true religious freedom means there is zero role for the government in telling us where, when or how we should pray. Government-enforced school prayer actually denigrates religion and takes power away from parents to make their own choices around the religious practices of their children. It's an unconstitutional recipe for discrimination. We can't let that happen.
Don’t bring public school chaplains to my state
The Texas Legislature recently passed a troubling new law that allows school boards to create public school chaplain programs. We know that this legislative effort won’t be limited to Texas. Join Interfaith Alliance and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in organizing NOW before it spreads to more states. Add your name to the petition.
resources
Education resources
We co-chair the national Coalition for Religious Freedom in Public Schools with Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Sikh Coalition. In partnership with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, we have led the faith-based opposition to a growing effort to replace school counselors with religious chaplains.
If you’re interested in learning more about our education advocacy, please contact Tranée McDonald at tmcdonald@interfaithalliance.org.
We co-chair the national Coalition for Religious Freedom in Public Schools with Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Sikh Coalition. In partnership with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, we have led the faith-based opposition to a growing effort to replace school counselors with religious chaplains.
If you’re interested in learning more about our education advocacy, please contact Tranée McDonald at tmcdonald@interfaithalliance.org.
Toolkit for Opposing Chaplains in Public Schools
View the ToolkitFriend-of-the-court brief in 10 Commandments mandate case in Louisiana
Read the brief170 Texas Chaplains Urge State School Boards to Keep Chaplains Out of Public Schools
Read the letter
More than 60 faith-based organizations oppose Educational Choice for Children Act
Interfaith Alliance was one of more than 60 faith-based organizations and 260 faith leaders representing over 3.3 million people who signed a letter to congress opposing the inclusion of the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) in the federal reconciliation budget.
Book Bans vs. the Right to Read: Kelly Jensen and Rev. Amos Brown
This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Kelly Jensen. She’s a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom, democracy, and the right to read. As an editor at Book Riot and a former librarian, Kelly has been at the forefront of the fight against book bans and censorship. The urgent conversation covers the growing wave of censorship, the role of religious extremism in book-banning efforts, and what we can do to safeguard free expression and democratic values.
WATCH: Faith Leaders in Opposition to Arkansas 10 Commandements Bill
Over 50 Arkansas faith leaders have signed a letter opposing SB433, requiring the display of a government-selected version of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms and buildings. They gathered at the Capitol in Little Rock yesterday to hold a press conference that is making waves across the state.
Let's build a democracy that works for all people
Together, we can make a significant impact in this pivotal moment in our nation's history.