Within the last generation the courts, and especially the Supreme Court, have dramatically shifted the relationship between government and religion, or Church and State as it is commonly called. However, our goal here is not to analyze the history of this shift or the history of religion in public education. There's the way it is , and there's the way it was . The Secretary's Statement reflects the way it is. They are subject to the same rules as apply to comparable messages.
Schools are to be neutral with respect to religion.
However, they may play an active role with respect to teaching civic values and virtue, and the moral code that holds us together as a community. Schools may not allow religious instruction by outsiders on school premises during the school day. However, school officials may dismiss students to off-premises religious instruction. There are indeed gray areas surrounding religion in public education. There are differing opinions in the various Appeals Courts.