1003.45 Permitting study of the Bible and religion; requiring a moment of silence.

(1) The district school board may install in the public schools in the district a secular program of education including, but not limited to, an objective study of the Bible and of religion.

(2) The Legislature finds that in today’s hectic society too few persons are able to experience even a moment of quiet reflection before plunging headlong into the activities of daily life. Young persons are particularly affected by the absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet reflection. The Legislature finds that our youth, and society as a whole, would be well served if students in the public schools were afforded a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

(3) The principal of each public school shall require teachers in first-period classrooms in all grades to set aside at least 1 minute, but not more than 2 minutes, daily for a moment of silence, during which students may not interfere with other students’ participation. A teacher may not make suggestions as to the nature of any reflection that a student may engage in during the moment of silence.

(4) Each first-period classroom teacher shall encourage parents or guardians to discuss the moment of silence with their children and to make suggestions as to the best use of this time.

History: s. 138, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2021-89.