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SRES 426119th CongressIn Committee
A resolution designating the week of October 5, 2025, through October 11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States.
Introduced: Sep 30, 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (R-South Carolina)
Education
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
This resolution designates the week of October 5-11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States. The resolution affirms the importance of religious education in civic and moral development, citing historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, as well as Supreme Court precedents that protect parents' rights to direct their children's education and allow released time programs for religious instruction. It calls on all states, territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate students who wish to be released from public school to attend religious classes.
Key Points
- 1Designates October 5-11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to honor religious education's role in American society
- 2Cites the First Amendment's protection of free exercise of religion as a fundamental right
- 3References Supreme Court cases Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925) and Zorach v. Clauson (1952) supporting parental rights and released time programs
- 4Notes that approximately 4.35 million children attend sectarian elementary and secondary schools, and 540,000 public school students participate in released time programs annually
- 5Calls on all states, territories, and D.C. to accommodate released time programs allowing public school students to attend religious instruction
Impact Areas
Public schools: Encourages accommodation of released time programs for religious instruction during school hoursReligious educational institutions: Celebrates and recognizes sectarian schools and religious education programsStudents and families: Affirms parental rights to choose religious education and supports student access to religious instructionState education policy: Calls on states to implement or maintain policies allowing released time for religious education
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