What ‘separation of church and state’ really means for students

The term “separation of church and state” has been weaponized against Christians to silence us from sharing our faith and to sideline religious expression in the public square. That tension was on full display earlier this month, when the White House Religious Liberty Commission convened lawmakers and faith leaders alike. According to Christian author and broadcaster Eric Metaxas, “at the heart of American liberty and religious liberty, is faith in the God of the Bible.” Chairman Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushed further, stating, “there is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state’ in the Constitution.” This debate is no longer theoretical; it is playing out in classrooms across America, where students’ freedom to live out and share their faith is increasingly under pressure.

So, what does it mean to have freedom of religion for kids in American schools? Does it mean your children are free to practice religion at home and church but not in public? Must they stay quiet about God in the classroom and online school platforms, and only talk about Him at break time? Absolutely not. If you have a child in public school, it’s important that both you and your child understand your right to freedom of religion for children to practice their faith in school.

As a constitutional right, “freedom of religion” for students also includes the “free exercise of religion.” Faith is meaningless if a person cannot live out their faith in public as they please.

What “separation of church and state” actually means is that the government may not establish a religion, force a particular religion on people, or prevent the free exercise of religion by discriminating against or suppressing expression. Thomas Jefferson used the phrase in a personal letter to reassure people that the government would not interfere in religious beliefs or practice, because prior to the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, some states endorsed particular religions. Government staying out of religion does not mean religious people must stay out of government, or that they must never bring their beliefs and practices with them into public places and events. That would be a government prohibition or prevention of religion.

The protected right of freedom of religion for children

While we’re privileged to have access to freedom of religion for students in American schools, some countries do not recognize freedom of religion, yet Christians must obey God rather than man. God’s law is always the ultimate law. In the United States, however, the Constitution recognizes the freedom of conscience and of religious practice, so when uninformed people try to intimidate or restrict us, we can politely resist with the confidence that the highest law in the land is on our side, protecting freedom of religion for everyone.

Telling children they may not openly pray in school or talk about Jesus, during non-instructional time or in contexts where other students are permitted to speak without limit to time or place, is a violation of free speech, freedom of religion for students and free exercise of that religion. As our faith should affect every part of our lives and decisions, there are plenty of times when it would be appropriate to speak of religious beliefs without straying from the classroom topic

How to exercise freedom of religion for students in classrooms

When it comes to freedom of religion for children in public schools, your child has every right to voluntarily speak about their beliefs in school — whether it be a conversation with another student, a comment in a class discussion about literature or philosophy, or a written paper that meets assignment criteria

Government representatives (such as school administrators and teachers) must extend equal treatment and equal access to all individuals and groups that are similarly situated within school bodies. If a school allows students to pass out opinion fliers, hang posters and attend after-school clubs led by adults, the school cannot deny any students the right to do all the same things.

The fight for freedom of religion for children

This right to freedom of religion for students who believe in Jesus was more firmly secured for American Christians everywhere in a 2001 case that went to the Supreme Court, Good News Club v. Milford Central School District. Despite the clear ruling, school districts across the country continue to try to keep Good News Club out — forcing Child Evangelism Fellowship^® to defend this right in nearly 400 legal victories, including several in recent months, proving the fight for religious freedom in schools is far from over. If we fail to defend this freedom now, we risk raising a generation that concludes faith no longer belongs at the center of their lives.

Fred Pry is the Vice President of Administration at Child Evangelism Fellowship^® (CEF^®), the most impactful child evangelism ministry in the world, reaching more than 31 million children worldwide with its face-to-face ministry in 2025. Fred joined CEF in 2003 as director of a local chapter in Pennsylvania before being appointed state director of Virginia. Later, he was invited to lead USA Ministries, and since 2024, he has been serving in the role of Vice President of Administration.