MS HB279

School districts must treat students' voluntary religious viewpoints on permissible subjects the same as secular viewpoints and cannot discriminate based on religious expression.

Each school district must adopt a policy establishing a limited public forum for student speakers at school events, with neutral selection criteria and a required disclaimer that student speech does not reflect school district endorsement.

Students may express religious beliefs in homework, artwork, and classroom assignments without penalty or reward based on religious content, and work must be judged by ordinary academic standards.

Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and other religious gatherings with the same access to school facilities and advertising methods as non-religious student groups.

The act takes effect July 1, 2010, and amends Mississippi Code Section 37-13-4.1 to permit student-initiated voluntary prayer at school events in accordance with the act's provisions.