Which case involved the decision about school-sponsored prayer and the separation of church and state in public schools?

• A. Tinker v. Des Moines
• B. Engel v. Vitale
• C. New Jersey v. T.L.O
• D. New York Times Co. v. United States

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of the Establishment Clause and how it applies to public schools. Engel v. Vitale held that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violates the First Amendment because it amounts to government endorsement of religion, undermining the separation of church and state in an educational setting. The other cases address different issues: Tinker v. Des Moines focuses on student free speech rights; New Jersey v. T.L.O concerns searches and seizures in schools; New York Times Co. v. United States deals with freedom of the press and prior restraint. So the case that specifically deals with school-sponsored prayer and church-state separation is Engel v. Vitale.