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Canyon ISD board adopts resolution to offer voluntary daily period for prayer and religious reading
Summary
The Canyon ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution Feb. 9 to adopt a policy implementing Senate Bill 11 that allows a voluntary, supervised period of prayer or reading of religious texts on each school day; participation requires parental consent and the board said principals will set locations and times.
The Canyon ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Feb. 9 to adopt a resolution directing the district to implement a policy under Senate Bill 11 that provides students and employees an opportunity for a voluntary period of prayer and reading of religious texts on each school day.
Administrators told the board the resolution mirrors statutory language and that the district will implement two local policies—FNA (students) and DGA (employees)—to reflect the law. Under the presented language, principals will designate appropriate locations and times for the period, and the use of campus public-address systems is prohibited.
The board heard that participation will require a signed consent form from a parent or guardian. The form must include: an acknowledgement that the student has a choice whether to participate; a statement that the parent or guardian has no objection to the student’s participation or hearing prayers/readings during that period; and an express waiver of the right to bring claims under state or federal law arising from adoption of the policy, including claims under the First Amendment. Administrators said the district has already offered the consent form to families at the start of the school year at principals’ discretion and that the practice has been in place since September without incident.
Trustees discussed implementation details including how principals will identify appropriate spaces (administrators said administrative regulations will supply operational guidance), whether the activities would be supervised, and how the district would document parental consent. Board members asked about protections for students who decline to participate; staff reiterated that no student may be required to attend and that the practice must occur outside the instructional day.
The board took a roll-call record vote as required by the statute and approved the resolution. Administrators said the policy language will return for formal adoption after the required notices and first reading process.
What’s next: The district will publish the policy text and the consent form and will proceed with local administrative regulations and first readings following the board’s resolution.
Sources: Canyon ISD presentations and the board’s Feb. 9, 2026 meeting.
