They come to Room 103 at Scott City Middle School every Wednesday morning -- about 25 students who, heads bowed, hands clasped and eyes closed, gather to pray.

Over an early-morning snack of cookies and donuts, the enthusiastic sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders from various religious denominations also hold a quick Bible study before heading off to their first class.

"This is a group I can rely on to share my thoughts with," said sixth-grader Amy Lawman. "I'm not a Christian by myself in school."

The scene demonstrates the purpose behind new federal guidelines released in Februrary by the U.S. Department of Education, describing what constitutes legally protected school prayer.

Buried in the 1,200-page No Child Left Behind Act, which President Bush signed into law in 2002, is a provision that calls for new school-prayer guidelines to be released annually and also yanks federal funding from school districts that violate the new guidelines.

The guidelines are receiving tough criticism from groups that advocate separation of church and state, but local school officials say the new law follows suit with what their districts are already doing.

"I think it's a bold initiative," said Mark Baker, a Jackson parent and school board member. "There's a lot of violence with school shootings and things along that line today. This might make a difference."

Biggest changes

Among the provisions that will most affect school districts are:

The right of students to express their religious convictions at school assemblies and extracurricular events;

The right of teachers and other school employees to pray at school;

The requirement of district officials to sign annual assurance statements verifying their schools are not in violation of prayer guidelines.

Jim Morris, director of public information with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said he believes the new law will have very little affect on Missouri schools.

"School prayer issues are not new to school districts," Morris said. "They have had years to get their practices in line with what's appropriate. We feel this is simply an administrative formality."

Morris said DESE began notifying district officials about the new requirement in mid-February, and many already have returned their assurance statements, which are due March 15. From now on, the assurance statements will be a regular part of the annual school district application process to obtain federal funding.

While the biggest change is the link with federal funding, the guidelines also offer unprecedented clarification of what is and is not allowed when it comes to religious expression in school.

They state that students participating in assemblies, graduation or extracurricular activities such as sporting events may not be restricted in expressing religious beliefs as long as those students are chosen as speakers through "neutral, evenhanded criteria." To avoid controversy, schools may issue issue disclaimers clarifying that such speech does not represent the school.

At Jackson High School, principal Rick McClard said there is often student-led prayer at graduation ceremonies. Principal Dr. Mike Cowan said last year at Central High School students voiced expressions of faith during opening and closing comments at graduation.

But Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a national advocacy group, claim the guidelines are misleading.

"The guidelines imply that students have a legal right to pray before a captive audience at graduation, assemblies or sporting events, but federal courts have been split on this issue," said Robert Boston, assistant director of communication at Americans United headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Boston said his organization feels that, rather than present such guidelines as federal law, the U.S. Department of Education should advise school administrators to find out what their federal court has ruled on the issue.

"Our message is, don't necessarily believe everything you read in these guidelines. They're flawed," Boston said. "And they put our public school administrators in a no-win situation. They can break the law and risk losing funding, or they can comply and risk a lawsuit."

Prayer-related lawsuits

Last year, a Colorado family filed a federal lawsuit against its local school district seeking an end to school-sponsored religious messages, such as student-led prayer at graduation and the performance of religious songs.

In May 2001, a federal judge issued a restraining order that blocked student-led prayer at Washington Community High School in Washington, Ill., following a lawsuit filed by class valedictorian Natasha Appenheimer.

Jackson, Central and Scott City schools have open-access policies of allowing non-school-related groups, such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Fellowship of Christian Students, to meet on campus.

"Sometimes it's a judgment call," Cowan said. "We have to make sure it doesn't impede the educational process and doesn't create any overt discomfort for our students or staff."

Cowan said he feels it is just as important for schools to support the spiritual development of students as it is to support their physical and mental development.

"The courts have been clear that rights do not stop at the schoolhouse door," Cowan said. "Students have the right to free speech, and part of that is the freedom to express themselves spiritually."

But Cape Girardeau mother Rhon Abraham, whose children attend Central High and Jefferson Elementary, said parents and school leaders should approach the new guidelines with caution.

"I honestly see nothing wrong with prayer in school, but because it is a public place, the concern is the separation of church and state," she said. "When you are going to school at a taxpayer-funded place, that is a secular activity."

Some students say the ability to express their religious beliefs at school is very important to them, and many depend on prayer groups as an emotional outlet.

"It's hard during a normal day of school to get together with other Christians, but this group lets me know they are out there," said seventh-grader Donielle Howell, who takes part in the prayer group at Scott City Middle School. "What we do in this group carries over throughout my day."

Teachers share views

Eighth grade English teacher Leann Grant monitors the Scott City group, which meets around 7:30 a.m. once a week for prayer, religious skits and trivia.

"This age group is facing so many problems. They deal with so much from peers," Grant said. "It's a good age for them to participate in a group like Fellowship of Christian Students."

The new guidelines are of particular interest to Grant and other teachers involved in religious activities on school campuses.

While acting in their official capacities, teachers and school administrators are prohibited from encouraging or discouraging prayer, but this does not prevent employees from meeting during noninstructional time for group prayer or Bible study, as is the case at Central High School, where teachers meet once a week for a devotional.

Central business teacher Rene Pingel is one of the founding members of the group, which began meeting this year.

"We feel so good after we leave there," said Pingel, who attends Lynwood Baptist Church. "What better way to start the day than talking to God?"

Around eight teachers meet every Wednesday before school for prayer, Scripture readings and a devotional in which they focus on specific issues, such as teen pregnancy, and apply it to their surroundings.

"Teachers walk a fine line when it comes to religious expression. I personally feel we need prayer in school," Pingel said. "Teachers want to be good examples in our school system. Hopefully students will see God's love through us."

Local parents say they are pleased the new guidelines have been released. Robyn Hosp of Jackson, who has two children in that district's schools, said she supports the right to pray in school during appropriate times.

"If a teacher wants to pray in her classroom on her break, more power to her. What's it going to hurt?" Hosp said. "I think that the guidelines changing are wonderful. It's another chance for students and teachers to express themselves."

Managing editor Heidi Hall contributed to this report.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, ext. 128

WHAT IS NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND?

Signed into law in January 2002 by President Bush, the No Child Left Behind Act is a sweeping reform of public school systems that will impact almost every aspect of education -- from state mandated testing and funding to teacher qualifications and parental options.

POWER OF PRAYER

New guidance released in February by the U.S. Department of Education offer clarification on constitutionally protected prayer in public schools. According to the new guidance:

School districts must certify in writing to the state department of education that no policy violates the new guidance, or risk losing federal funding.

Student may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction and may organize prayer groups and religious clubs and must be given the same access to school facilities as other non-curricular groups.

When acting in their official capacities, teachers and other school employees are prohibited from encouraging or discouraging prayer and from actively participating in such activitiy with students.

School employees may take part in religious activities when they are not participating in their official capacities and may meet during non-instructional time for prayer or Bible study.

Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork and other written or oral assignments free from discrimination.

School officials may not mandate or organize prayer at graduation or select speakers for such events, including assemblies and athletic activities, that favors religious speech such as prayer.

At graduation, assemblies and sporting events where student speakers are selected on the basis of neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious or anti-religious content.