Public schools would bar official religious coercion and school-sponsored worship

A school or school official acting officially would not be allowed to discriminate based on religious belief or nonbelief, pressure students about religious activity, sponsor worship, or present religious doctrine as the school's official position. These rules would cover public school entities, including districts, charter schools, cyber charter schools, intermediate units and career and technical schools. Student consent, parent permission, or calling attendance voluntary would not excuse prohibited conduct. Objective academic study of religion and accurate, evidence-based instruction would remain allowed. A school official's genuinely personal expression would remain allowed if the official does not direct or pressure students to participate. If enacted, these rules would take effect 90 days after regulations are published or one year after enactment, whichever comes first.

Schools would have to reasonably accommodate a student's religious practice and generally could not restrict or penalize religious clothing or adornment worn by students or employees. The accommodation rule would apply to student religious practices, while the clothing protections would cover students and school employees. A school could deny an accommodation if it would materially disrupt operations or compromise safety, or if denying it is the least restrictive way to serve a compelling government interest under the Religious Freedom Protection Act. Restrictions on religious clothing would require a specific safety risk, true threat, unlawful harassment, material disruption, or an equally applied health, safety or job requirement. Schools would have to give written reasons for denied accommodation requests and could not retaliate against people who request them. If enacted, schools would decide ordinary requests within a reasonable time and handle requests involving imminent events on an expedited basis.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission would handle complaints, and eligible people could bring a court case after required administrative steps or when urgent harm made court action necessary. Students, parents or guardians, school employees and student organizations alleging violations would be covered people. Most court cases would require completing the commission process, but urgent or imminent harm could allow preliminary court relief without waiting. Commission complaints generally would be due within 180 days, and court cases would have separate deadlines. Available relief could include orders to stop conduct, record corrections, restored organizational standing, injunctions, damages, and attorney fees, subject to statutory damage limits. If enacted, the department and commission would issue guidance and regulations within 120 days after the applicable effective date; schools would train officials within 90 days after the regulations and annually thereafter.