Orange County Board of Education
Resolution 26-08
Religious Freedom Day

Whereas, the right to religious freedom is a foundation block of America’s historical roots, and

Whereas, our Founding Fathers knew the importance of freedom of religion for a stable democracy, and our Constitution protects individuals’ rights to worship as they choose, and

Whereas, January 16th celebrates the anniversary of the 1786 Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom that restrained the practice of taxing people to pay for the support of the local clergy, and protected the civil rights of people to express their religious beliefs without suffering discrimination. This statue also protects religious freedom in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and

Whereas, each year the President of the United States declares January 16th to be “Religious Freedom Day,” and calls upon Americans to “observe this day through appropriate events and activities in homes, schools, and places of worship,” and

Whereas, Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (“ESEA”) of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires as a con¬dition of receiving ESEA funds, that a local educational agency (“LEA”) must certify in writing to its State educational agency (“SEA”) that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools, and

Whereas, the Orange County Department of Education is the functioning LEA for Orange County, and this governing board declares that it does not find or promote policies that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as set forth in ESEA, Section 9524 guidance, and

Further, the Orange County Board of Education acknowledges January 16, 2008, as Religious Freedom Day in the United States of America, and

Further, the Orange County Board of Education encourages all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty; preserve this freedom for future generations; and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities in their schools, places of worship, neighborhoods, and homes.

I, Dr. Ken Williams, Jr., President of the Board of Education in Orange County, California, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the said Board at a Regular Meeting thereof held on the 1st day of December 2009 and passed by 5-0 vote of the Board members present.

AYES: 5

NOES:

ABSENT:

STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE )

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 1st day of December 2008.

(Signature on Original)
________________________________
Dr. Ken Williams, Jr., President
Orange County Board of Education