SchoolPrayer is legal.
Prayer meetings in public school are legal. SchoolPrayer has met legally in Lemmon Public School since September 2022. Your local school district and school administration policies will determine the specifics of what SchoolPrayer is permitted to do in your school.
SchoolPrayer advocates maintaining a positive relationship with school administrators and respecting the administration’s responsibility to protect our students. Both of SchoolPrayer’s approaches, community group and school club, have been reviewed by an independent South Dakota attorney.
The legal basis
Three foundations protect prayer in public schools
US Department of Education guidance (updated February 2026)
Current federal guidance affirming constitutionally protected, voluntary student prayer within public schools.
The Equal Access Act of 1984
If your school district allows other community groups or extra-curricular school clubs, the district should allow SchoolPrayer meetings in a similar fashion.
Wigg v. Sioux Falls School Dist. 49-5
A lawsuit that forms part of the legal basis for prayer in public school, decided here in South Dakota.
rule one
Held during free time
Prayer in public schools must be held during the free time of students and non-contracted time of teachers.
rule two
Always voluntary
Participation is voluntary; no student or teacher is ever required to take part.
rule three
Equal access
Prayer in public schools is possible either as a Community Group or as a School Club.
SchoolPrayer meetings only take 15 minutes. When starting SchoolPrayer you will need to determine your school district policies. For more details, see How to Start SchoolPrayer.
How it began
“A student request started SchoolPrayer”
Thanks to a comment from one of our students and my acceptance of the challenge, SchoolPrayer became a reality. During a visit after a youth group gathering, a student expressed their desire to feel the same fullness of faith in school. I responded with a simple question, “Why can’t we?”Scott Peterson, the teacher who facilitated the start of SchoolPrayer
The following day, I discussed the idea with the school superintendent, who offered support but emphasized the need to insure its legality. After consulting with the school’s attorney, I received the green light, with one condition: our sessions must conclude by 7:45 am, the official start of my workday as per my contract.
So, we began announcing to the students that we could gather before school between 7:30 to 7:45. Initially, we had a consistent attendance of 8–10 students each morning. Over time, through word of mouth, our numbers have grown to over 30 some mornings.
Creating an environment where students, as well as myself, could begin the day focused on what truly matters has been a profound blessing. Requesting the first 15 minutes of our school day to be dedicated to the Lord is a worthy endeavor; He deserves that and so much more. I am confident that, like me, you will come to see it as a true blessing.
God Bless,
It’s legal. It takes 15 minutes.
Voluntary prayer during free time, on the same footing as any other group. The next step is yours.
