We’re a collective force for
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.
Get Involved
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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
Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act Introduced in the House
This legislation would repeal the federal tax credit voucher program included in H.R.1, an unprecedented program passed into law last year that will redirect federal taxpayer dollars to private and often religious schools, blurring the critical line between church and state.
Faith Communities Stand Up for Inclusive Public Schools
On June 10, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on K-12 education, calling before them superintendents from school districts across the country. Ahead of the hearing, Interfaith Alliance helped organize a coalition of faith-based and interfaith organizations to submit a letter to the committee in support of inclusive public education. Thanks to Rep. Lucy McBath, that letter was entered into the congressional record.
Let's rise up against religious extremism together
Stay informed, get involved, be bold. We will send you the best ways to get involved in the faithful resistance, and the latest information on our work as a faithful community.