Which case struck down state-sponsored prayer in public schools on Establishment Clause grounds?

Which case struck down state-sponsored prayer in public schools on Establishment Clause grounds?

• A. Abington School District v. Schempp
• B. Engel v. Vitale
• C. Lemon v. Kurtzman
• D. Wallace v. Jaffree

Answer: (B)

The main concept here is how the Establishment Clause bars the government from endorsing religion in public schools. Engel v. Vitale ruled that state-written and state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates that clause, because when the government leads students in prayer, it amounts to official religious endorsement and pressure to participate, which public schools cannot do. This makes it the best answer to a question about striking down state-sponsored prayer on Establishment Clause grounds. For context, Abington School District v. Schempp addressed Bible readings and also found school-endorsed religious practice unconstitutional, while Lemon v. Kurtzman created a framework for evaluating Establishment Clause cases, and Wallace v. Jaffree struck down a moment-of-silence-with-prayer in public schools.

The main concept here is how the Establishment Clause bars the government from endorsing religion in public schools. Engel v. Vitale ruled that state-written and state-sponsored prayer in public schools violates that clause, because when the government leads students in prayer, it amounts to official religious endorsement and pressure to participate, which public schools cannot do. This makes it the best answer to a question about striking down state-sponsored prayer on Establishment Clause grounds. For context, Abington School District v. Schempp addressed Bible readings and also found school-endorsed religious practice unconstitutional, while Lemon v. Kurtzman created a framework for evaluating Establishment Clause cases, and Wallace v. Jaffree struck down a moment-of-silence-with-prayer in public schools.