Education Department warns against schools encouraging private prayer, other religious activity

The Biden administration updated its guidance on prayer and other religious expression in public schools, warning school employees not to encourage or endorse such activity.

However, the Education Department warns, school employees can't "compel, coerce, persuade, or encourage students to join in the employee's prayer or other religious activity." The guidance goes on to say that schools may take "reasonable measures" to ensure that students aren't pressured or encouraged to join in the private prayers of their teachers or coaches. Aaron Kliegman is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital. 

The guidance comes at a time of year when many graduation ceremonies are taking place across the country. According to the Education Department, public school officials "may not mandate or organize prayer at graduation or select speakers for such events in a manner that favors religious speech such as prayer."