PRIORITY - Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 33
POLICY CODE: IMD

TO: Superintendents of Schools and School Principals
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner, Department of Education
DATE: September 25, 2009
RE: PRIORITY - Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer

TIME SENSITIVE – REQUIRES RESPONSE BY OCTOBER 1, 2009

Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, 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 as set forth in the guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Education at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayerguidance.html?exp=0 .

In order for the Maine Department of Education to be in compliance with this requirement, we must receive a written statement from each School Administrative Unit (SAU) by October 1, 2009, containing the following information:

Certification on Constitutionally Protected Prayer

Name of LEA_____________________________________ Date _________________

______ does ______ does not have any policy that prevents or otherwise denies participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools.

Signature of person authorized to provide this assurance _______________________

To do this, please either e-mail or send a letter to:

Rachelle Tome
ESEA Clearinghouse
23 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0023
rachelle.tome@maine.gov