What the Law Says Pertaining to Religious Instruction
This page and PDF contains portions of California law that pertain to religious instruction in charter schools. [Bracketed Comments and Emphasis Added] This page is not intended to be nor does it constitute the giving of legal advice.
Under ARTICLE 9 SECTION 8 of the California State Constitution, no public money shall ever be appropriated for the support of any sectarian [religious] or denominational school, or any school not under the exclusive control of the officers of the public schools; nor shall any sectarian or denominational doctrine be taught, or instruction thereon be permitted, directly or indirectly, in any of the common schools* of this State.
Additionally, the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) reinforces this mandate with the following key points*:
(*Below is a description published by the CCSA of the requirements set forth in the California Constitution and Codes.)
- It is strictly against California law for any public school, including charter schools, to offer religious instruction.
Under the California state constitution, all public education must be of a non-sectarian nature and the teaching or funding of any religious or faith based “public” school is strictly prohibited.
- Ed. Code 47605(d)(1) states that “a charter school shall be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations.”
- Common Schools: “public school[s]” – Blacks Law Dictionary, 9th Edition; the terms “common schools” and “public schools” are synonymous.
For Christians considering charter schools, this page includes three insightful articles and a video summary of a short documentary underscoring why involvement in these schools may conflict with biblical values and principles of religious education. Please see the links above to each of the articles.
California Education Code
Section 47615
(a)(1) and (a)(3)
Section 47615
(d)(1) and (e)(1)
Section 60044
Section 60605
(a)(1)
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) Charter schools are part of the Public School System, as defined in Article IX of the California Constitution.
(2)  Charter schools are under the jurisdiction of the Public School System and the exclusive control of the officers of the public schools, as provided in this part.
(3) Charter schools shall be entitled to full and fair funding, as provided in this part.
(b) This part shall be liberally construed to effectuate the findings and declarations set forth in this section.
(d)(1) Charter schools shall meet all statewide standards and conduct the pupil assessments required pursuant to Section 60605 and any other statewide standards authorized in statute or pupil assessments applicable to pupils in noncharter public schools.
(e)(1) In addition to any other requirement imposed under this part, a charter school shall be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations, shall not charge tuition, and shall not discriminate against any pupil on the basis of the characteristics listed in Section 220.
A governing board shall not adopt any instructional materials for use in the schools that, in its determination, contain:
(a) Any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, occupation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220.
(b) Any sectarian or denominational doctrine or propa-ganda contrary to law.
(A) Not later than January 1, 1998, the state board shall adopt statewide academically rigorous content standards, pursuant to the recommendations of the Commission for the Establishment of Academic Content and Performance Standards, in the core curriculum areas of reading, writing, and mathematics to serve as the basis for assessing the academic achievement of individual pupils and of schools, school districts, and the California educational system.Â
Not later than November 1, 1998, the state board shall adopt these standards in the core curriculum areas of history/social science and science.
(B) The state board shall adopt statewide performance standards in the core curriculum areas of reading, writing, mathematics, history/social science, and science based on the recommendations made by the Superintendent of a contractor or contractors.
Charter School "Trojan Horse"
Many Christian homeschoolers are being enticed back into the bondage of government-funded education.
This raises many questions, which are thoughtfully discussed in a short DVD titled “Exposing A Trojan Horse” (2008). For instance, “Will the choices these parents are making ultimately benefit their children for generations to come, or harm them?” “What happens to a child’s faith in the God of all creation when they are enrolled in an education program that is prohibited from teaching about God?” And “What will be the impact on future generations of Christian home educators?”
We highly recommend this informative and thought-provoking preview of a 30-minute DVD titled “Exposing A Trojan Horse” that you can purchase at Christian Heritage. Â It was produced by the National Alliance of Christian Home Education Leadership.
Charter Schools
Warn Your Charter School Friends – National Database of School Children Launched
(Source: ParentalRights.org 3-20-13) The SXSWedu Technology Conference [held recently in Austin, Texas] featured a new...