Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Promoting Loyalty, Engagement, Duty, and Gratitude in Education Act” or the “PLEDGE Act”.
Promoting Loyalty, Engagement, Duty, and Gratitude in Education Act
A BILL
To establish requirements for patriotic observances in elementary and secondary schools of the District of Columbia.
Sec. 2 Patriotic observances in District of Columbia schools
Definition— In this section, the term District of Columbia school means an elementary school or secondary school in the District of Columbia.
Flag— Each District of Columbia school shall cause the flag of the United States of America to be displayed in each classroom during the hours of each school day.
National anthem— When the national anthem is played in a District of Columbia school, each student or civilian shall stand at attention.
Pledge of allegiance—
Manner of recitation— When the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag (in this subsection referred to as the Pledge), “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”, is recited in a District of Columbia school, each student shall recite the Pledge while standing with the right hand over the heart.
Daily recitation— The Pledge shall be recited at the beginning of the day in each District of Columbia school.
Opt-out with parental consent—
Notice to students— A District of Columbia school shall inform each student by a written notice published in the student handbook or a similar publication that the student has the right not to participate in reciting the Pledge, subject to the requirements of this subsection.
Written request from parent— Upon written request by the parent of a student, a District of Columbia school shall excuse the student from reciting the Pledge, including from standing and placing the right hand over the heart.
No disruption or distraction— No student may make any display that disrupts or distracts other students who are reciting the Pledge in a District of Columbia school.
Accommodations— A District of Columbia school shall make a reasonable modification, under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.), for any student who is unable to comply because of a disability (as defined in section 3 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12102)) with the procedures under this subsection.