20-7-133. Pledge of allegiance required -- exemption for students and teachers. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America must be recited in all public schools of the state and may be followed by a moment of silence.
(2) The recitation required in subsection (1) must be conducted at the beginning of the first class of each school day in kindergarten through grade 12.
(3) The recitation must be conducted:
(a) by each individual classroom teacher or the teacher's surrogate; or
(b) over the school intercom system by a faculty member or person designated by the principal.
(4) A school district shall inform all students and teachers of their right to not participate in recitation of the pledge. Any student or teacher who, for any reason, objects to participating in the pledge exercise must be excused from participation. A student or teacher who declines to participate in the pledge may engage in any alternative form of conduct so long as that conduct does not materially or substantially disrupt the work or discipline of the school.
(5) If a student or teacher declines to participate in the recitation of the pledge pursuant to this section, a school district may not for evaluation purposes include any reference to the student's or teacher's not participating.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 320, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 239, L. 2021.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 7. School Instruction and Special Programs
Part 1. Accreditation and Curriculum
20-7-101. Standards of accreditation
20-7-102. Accreditation of schools
20-7-103. Montana pathway to excellence program -- purpose
20-7-105. K-12 data task force
20-7-106. Tribal computer programming boost scholarship program
20-7-107. through 20-7-110 reserved
20-7-111. Instruction in public schools
20-7-112. Sectarian publications prohibited and prayer permitted
20-7-114. Instructional assistance by superintendent of public instruction
20-7-115. Private music instruction
20-7-116. Supervised correspondence study
20-7-117. Kindergarten and preschool programs
20-7-118. Offsite provision of educational services by school district
20-7-119. Administration of United States civics test
20-7-120. Excused absences from curriculum requirements -- notice -- prohibited activities
20-7-121. through 20-7-130 reserved
20-7-131. Equivalency of completion of secondary education
20-7-132. Firearms safety education
20-7-133. Pledge of allegiance required -- exemption for students and teachers
20-7-134. Access to public high school campuses -- definition