Florida —
FFRF successfully urged the Okeechobee County (Fla.) School Board to put an end to multiple First Amendment violations.
FFRF received a report that Okeechobee High School has included a scheduled student-led prayer in graduation ceremonies since 2020. The prayers were overtly religious and the student giving the prayer often requested that all attendees, including other students, join the prayer.
Okeechobee High School also invited graduating students and members of the public to participate in a baccalaureate ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Okeechobee via an official announcement on the school’s website. There was no indication that the baccalaureate ceremony was not school sponsored. Further, the baccalaureate ceremony was the only opportunity for students and their families to view the official senior slide show.
Additionally, via the official website, the Okeechobee County School Board shared a list of summer activities — the “Summer Activity Guide” — for students which included many church-sponsored listings as well as entire sections for vacation bible school programs and church camps.
“Out of respect for students’ First Amendment rights and the community’s diversity, we ask that the board ensure Okeechobee High School cease including school-sponsored prayer at its graduation ceremonies and cease sponsoring, organizing and promoting baccalaureate ceremonies,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote. “Further, we ask that the board refrain from using its “Summer Activity Guide” to promote religious activities going forward.”
After receiving FFRF’s letter, Superintendent Dylan Tedders responded, addressing the complaints. Tedders said that, while Okeechobee High School graduations do not have scheduled prayers, they do have a scheduled opening by students elected as class delegates, which seemed to be where prayers were being delivered. Tedders wrote that he urged administration at the schools to investigate and ensure that future speeches do not infringe upon the rights of other students. Tedders also stated that the baccalaureate event was hosted by students, not staff, but the district would nonetheless end promotion of the event on their official website. Finally, Tedders confirmed that the “Summer Activity Guide” originated via an outside nonprofit provider that discontinued that form of communication, which saw the district continuing the practice to ensure families had access to camps and opportunities for students over the summer. Tedders stated that the production of the document would be shifted to a different outside organization to eliminate the appearance of support from the district.
The post FFRF successfully urged the Okeechobee County (Fla.) School Board to put an end to multiple First Amendment violations. (October 2025) appeared first on Freedom From Religion Foundation.
