§4071 Denial of equal access prohibited

Summary

Public secondary schools that get federal money and allow one or more noncurriculum student groups to meet during noninstructional time must let students hold meetings and cannot deny them or treat them unfairly because of the meeting’s religious, political, philosophical, or other content. Limited open forum: when a school permits at least one noncurriculum student group to meet on campus during non-class time. A school is fair if it applies rules the same to all groups, for example: meetings are student-led and voluntary; the school does not sponsor them; staff may attend religious meetings only as observers; meetings do not disrupt school activities; and outsiders may not run or regularly attend. The law does not let government or schools shape or force religious activity, make anyone take part, spend public funds beyond small room costs, force staff to attend against their beliefs, approve illegal meetings, require groups to be a certain size, or cut anyone’s constitutional rights. It also cannot be used to deny federal money to a school. Schools still can keep order, protect students and staff, and make sure attendance is voluntary.