Lexington-Richland 5 Changing Graduation Prayer Policy

Lexington-Richland Five officials are making changes to the district's policy on prayer at graduation ceremonies after a student filed a lawsuit last year challenging the policy, according to a report.

School board members gave initial approval Monday night to a new version of the policy that allows for a student-led message at graduation ceremonies and athletic events, according to a report in The State.

The student chosen to speak at a graduation or athletic event will choose the content of the message, according to the policy. District officials won't review or restrict the content of the message unless it's profane or vulgar. 

The previous version of the policy allowed for benedictions or invocations at a graduation if the majority of the senior class voted in favor of it, according to board documents. 

The district's policy is under legal attack after Matthew "Max" Nielson, a May 2012 Irmo High School graduate, sued the district, along with the Freedom from Religion Foundation, over a prayer spoken during graduation that year.