Which case held that the Establishment Clause prohibited prayer in public schools?

• A. Engel v. Vitale (1962)
• B. Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)
• C. Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
• D. Lee v. Weisman (1992)

Answer: (A)

The Establishment Clause forbids government endorsement of religion in public schools. In Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court struck down a daily, state-created prayer recited in public schools, ruling that government officials cannot lead or promote prayers in a setting that teachers and schools control. Even though the prayer was non-denominational and participation was voluntary, the Court held that the act of the school endorsing prayer violates the First Amendment’s separation of church and state.

This ruling sets the principle that state-sponsored religious activity in public schools crosses constitutional lines. Other cases on the list build related ideas in different ways: Abington School District v. Schempp dealt with Bible readings and found them unconstitutional in public schools, Lemon v. Kurtzman introduced a test for Establishment Clause cases, and Lee v. Weisman addressed prayer at graduation ceremonies, also finding it unconstitutional due to coercion and official endorsement.