It’s Time for Brevard to Approve a Volunteer Chaplain Program

Florida public schools are now approved to create their own volunteer chaplain programs following last year’s legislative session. HB 931 was signed into law in April of 2024. In a signing press release, then–Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. wrote, “Volunteer chaplains offer faith-based support and are uniquely suited to serve students and families throughout our state, and I’m pleased that we are providing another valuable resource for our schools.”

Read: Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation to Provide Additional Resources to Students

Prior to this legislative action, chaplain programs were not necessarily illegal, but uncertainties surrounding separation-of-church-and-state concerns prevented most school districts from creating formal chaplain roles. HB 931 clarified the legal environment and opened the door for local school districts to take positive action to create their own volunteer programs.

The bill’s language is notably flexible. The basic guidelines require that chaplains pass standard background-screening requirements, that principals suitably inform parents of the availability and religious affiliation of approved chaplains, and that students who elect, on a voluntary basis, to utilize chaplain services receive written parental consent. Certification requirements for chaplains, as well as the actual services and programs they might provide, are left for school districts to decide for themselves. However, a model program released by the Florida Department of Education suggested that services might include mentoring students, assisting with extracurricular activities such as religiously affiliated clubs, building resiliency skills, and offering spiritual guidance when requested.

While the bill was a positive win for faith-concerned parents in Florida, it did not automatically put anything into effect and has, for the most part, lain dormant. That changed last month when the Hernando County School Board approved Florida’s first volunteer chaplain program under HB 931. Hernando’s program is relatively straightforward, providing authorization for volunteer chaplains to apply, undergo screening, and, if approved, receive listing as an available resource for students on the district’s website.

With the proof of concept in Hernando, the timing is ideal for Brevard County to take a closer look at approving a similar program. Critics will cite issues related to the banning of mandatory school prayer in 1962, but a program created under HB 931 is entirely voluntary and fully preserves student and parent choice. There is little reason to oppose such a program, and a poll conducted by the Associated Press–NORC in June of this year found that 58% of Americans support voluntary chaplain programs that offer an additional layer of student support.

Read: The public holds nuanced views on the role of religion in public schools (Associated Press)

Brevard’s schoolchildren should be given every opportunity to excel in life. Our local churches are already serving schools in meaningful ways such as providing school supplies, meals for students in need, and after-school care and tutoring programs. Allowing additional avenues for our faith leaders to support students who want their help, through elective programs that nurture the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our young people, can only strengthen the resources available to them.

— Connor Mahoney is a Brevard County native and graduate of Florida Institute of Technology. He attends Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne.

— Christians of Brevard is a multi-church initiative that seeks to amplify the voices of local churches and ministries for the purpose of encouraging the local body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God. Join our Facebook community @ChristiansOfBrevard