Which law guides a school leader's response to students requesting the addition of a religious study club?

The Equal Access Act is the guiding law regarding a school leader's response to students who wish to establish a religious study club. This act, enacted in 1984, ensures that secondary schools receiving federal funding cannot deny students the right to engage in religious expression or activities on school premises, provided that the school allows for other non-curricular groups to meet.

Under the provisions of the Equal Access Act, if a public secondary school allows various student-led clubs, including those focused on non-religious topics, it must also permit clubs organized for religious purposes. This crucial aspect of the act promotes equal treatment and freedom of expression among students while simultaneously protecting the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

Other options, while related to school policies and student rights, do not specifically address the formation of religious study clubs. Title IX pertains to gender equity in education, FERPA deals with student privacy, and ADA focuses on disability accommodations. Therefore, the Equal Access Act is distinctly appropriate for guiding responses to requests for religious study clubs in educational settings.