Full Answer Section

Another limitation is that the school can still regulate the time, place, and manner of student group meetings. This means that the school can require student groups to meet during non-instructional time and in a designated location. However, the school cannot regulate the content of the student groups’ speech.

A teacher can be a sponsor of a student-led religious group, but they cannot participate in the group’s activities in a way that would endorse the group’s religious views. For example, a teacher could not lead the group in prayer or read from the Bible. However, the teacher could provide administrative support for the group, such as helping the group to find a meeting space or to advertise its meetings.

The EAA has been upheld by the courts. In the case of Mergens v. Westside School District, the Supreme Court ruled that the EAA prohibits public schools from discriminating against student groups on the basis of the content of their speech. The Court also ruled that the school could still regulate the time, place, and manner of student group meetings, but it could not regulate the content of the student groups’ speech.

The EAA is an important law that protects the rights of student-led religious groups. It ensures that these groups have the same access to school facilities as other student groups. However, the EAA also recognizes that schools have a legitimate interest in regulating the time, place, and manner of student group meetings.