Ind. Code ch. 20-33-12

in effect

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-1 Application of chapter

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to all public schools, including charter schools. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-2 Prohibition of discrimination

Sec. 2. A public school shall not discriminate against a student or a student's parent on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression. A public school shall treat a student's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject in the same manner the public school treats a student's voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject and may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-3 Expression of religious beliefs in school work

Sec. 3. Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Homework and classroom assignments must be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the public school. Students may not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work. If an assignment requires a student's viewpoint to be expressed in course work, artwork, or other written or oral assignments, a public school shall not penalize or reward a student on the basis of religious content or a religious viewpoint. In such an assignment, a student's academic work that expresses a religious viewpoint shall be evaluated based on ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance to the course curriculum or requirements of the course work or assignment. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-4 Religious expression at school

Sec. 4. (a) Public school students may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expressions before, during, and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that students may engage in nonreligious activities or expression. Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, or other religious gatherings before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups. A public school may indicate, in writing, orally, or both, that the religious activity does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the public school. (b) Religious groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular groups without discrimination based on the religious content of the students' expression. If student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce meetings of the groups, the public school may not discriminate against groups that meet for prayer or other religious speech. (c) A public school may disclaim school sponsorship of noncurricular groups and events in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech. (d) Students in public schools may wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display religious messages or religious symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a school corporation or charter school from establishing a policy requiring students to wear a school uniform or establishing a student dress code. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-5 Establishment of model policy

Sec. 5. (a) The department, in collaboration with the attorney general's office and organizations with expertise in religious civil liberties, shall establish a model policy addressing the requirements established by this chapter. The model policy shall be made available for school corporations and charter schools to assist a school corporation or charter school in meeting the requirements established by this chapter. (b) The department shall publish the model policy established under subsection (a) on the department's website. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.23-2026, SEC.197.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-6 Prohibition on required participation in religious activities

Sec. 6. This chapter shall not be construed to authorize the state or any political subdivision to do either of the following: (1) Require any person to participate in prayer or in any other religious activity. (2) Violate the constitutional rights of any person. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-7 Behavior contrary to citizenship or moral instruction

Sec. 7. This chapter may not be construed to prohibit a school from prohibiting behavior that is contrary to citizenship or moral instruction required under IC 20-30-5. As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 20-33-12-8 Severability

Sec. 8. The provisions of this chapter are severable as provided in IC 1-1-1-8(b). As added by P.L.220-2017, SEC.2.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026