HB255 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kerry Rich

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Education, local boards of education authorized to provide for released time religious instruction in public high schools as an elective course for credit

Summary

HB255 would allow local boards in Alabama to offer released-time religious instruction in public high schools as an elective credit option.

What This Bill Does

It would authorize local boards to add released-time religious instruction as an elective high school credit. If a district adopts a policy, a student may be excused from regular class to attend instruction conducted by a private entity during the school day, under certain conditions. The student may earn up to one elective credit for participation, and districts may set curriculum and participation standards. The student must make up any missed work, cannot be released from a core course, and attendance in the released-time class is not counted as an absence.

Who It Affects

• High school students who participate in released-time religious instruction: may earn up to one elective credit and are not counted absent while in the program.
• Parents/guardians and sponsoring entities (private religious instruction providers) working with local boards of education: must give consent, manage attendance records, arrange transportation and liability, and ensure no public funds or public school personnel are involved.

Key Provisions

• Local boards may adopt policies to authorize released-time religious instruction as elective high school credit.
• Credit is for classes conducted by a private entity during the school day and may be up to one credit unit; districts may set minimum standards for curriculum and participation.
• Conditions to excuse a student include written parental consent, attendance records provided to the school, transportation and liability arranged by the sponsor/parent, and sponsor liability.
• No public funds or public school personnel may be involved in providing the religious instruction.
• The student must make up missed schoolwork and cannot be released from a required core curriculum class.
• Attendance in released-time instruction is not counted as an absence.
• The act references constitutional considerations and precedents supporting released-time programs.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education