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On Wednesday, Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, presented HB342 to the House Education Policy Committee, proposing a mandate for school boards to grant students elective credit for participating in religious instruction outside the classroom.
Currently, Alabama law permits, but does not require, school boards to offer such credit. HB342 would make it mandatory for local school boards to establish policies allowing elective credit for released time religious instruction, following guidelines set by the Alabama State Board of Education.
Existing law states that local boards can adopt a policy once interest is shown for a released time religious instruction program in their district. The bill would require local school boards to implement policies for released time elective courses.
Currently, 12 school districts are utilizing these programs. For a student to participate in released time religious instruction, guardians must provide written consent, public funds cannot be used for the program and the public school’s employees cannot provide the religious instruction. The private group’s sponsor must also assume liability for students who are excused for released time while off-campus.
During the public hearing, individuals from the Alabama Association of School Boards and the School Superintendents of Alabama spoke against the bill.
Scott Suttle, president-elect of the Alabama Association of School Boards, said school boards don’t oppose religious release time but rather an additional governmental overreach.
“School boards have a rational and compelling reason as to why they pick and choose the release time for their students, and I think those reasons should be respected by the legislature. Please leave this law as it stands, as it works,” said Suttle.
Michael Milner, government affairs coordinator for the School Superintendents of Alabama, said that prioritizing local control would allow for local boards of education and superintendents to do what they know is best for their systems.
Dubose noted that the Alabama State Department of Education had released guidelines when the initial law was passed in 2019, allowing for these programs. She said that elective course content and curriculum would have to be approved by the local boards and adhere to ALSDE guidelines.
Rep. Van Smith, R-Clanton, said he appreciated the open hearing because the bill needs to be looked at more “in depth.”
“I would love to see Christian values in our schools, but I worry about when we get to the point where we say they have to be because I don’t know who the person deciding what they have to be is,” said Smith.
