Moment of Quiet Reflection in Schools Act

Moment of Quiet Reflection in Schools Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require each local educational agency (LEA), if it receives ESEA funds, to ensure that the teacher in charge of each classroom in each school served by the LEA conducts a brief period of quiet reflection for not more than 60 seconds with the participation of all the students assembled in the classroom, at the opening of school on every school day.

Prohibits such period from being conducted as a religious service or exercise. Requires such period to be considered as an opportunity for a moment of silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day.

Declares that this Act shall not be construed as prohibiting or restricting constitutionally protected prayer.

Requires LEAs, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, to certify in writing to their State that they are in compliance with this Act.

[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 591 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 591

 To provide for a period of quiet reflection at the opening of certain 
                      schools on every school day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 11, 2003

  Mr. Miller introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for a period of quiet reflection at the opening of certain 
                      schools on every school day.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Moment of Quiet Reflection in 
Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) In today's hectic society, all too few of the Nation's 
        citizens are able to experience even a moment of quiet 
        reflection before plunging headlong into the day's activities.
            (2) The Nation's young citizens are particularly affected 
        by this absence of an opportunity for a moment of quiet 
        reflection.
            (3) The Nation's youth, and society as a whole, would be 
        well served if students were afforded a moment of quiet 
        reflection at the beginning of each day in the public schools.

SEC. 3. MOMENT OF QUIET REFLECTION.

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 9536 the following:

``SEC. 9537. MOMENT OF QUIET REFLECTION.

    ``(a) In General.--Each local educational agency receiving funds 
under this Act shall ensure that, at the opening of school on every 
school day, the teacher in charge of each classroom in each school 
served by the agency conducts a brief period of quiet reflection for 
not more than 60 seconds with the participation of all the students 
assembled in the classroom.
    ``(b) Conduct.--A period of quiet reflection under this section 
shall not be conducted as a religious service or exercise, but shall be 
considered as an opportunity for a moment of silent reflection on the 
anticipated activities of the day.
    ``(c) Construction.--This section shall not be construed as 
prohibiting or restricting constitutionally protected prayer.
    ``(d) Certification.--As a condition of receiving funds under this 
Act, a local educational agency shall certify in writing to the State 
involved that the agency is in compliance with this section.''.
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