SB 391

This bill would allow public schools to offer elective courses focusing on the study of the Bible in grades six to 12. This bill would also allow public schools to display artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts related to the study of the Bible if displaying these items is appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course, and would require the State Board of Education to adopt rules and policies to implement the requirements of the bill

Relating to education; to allow public schools to offer elective courses focusing on the study of the Bible in grades six to 12; to allow public schools to display artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts related to the study of the Bible if displaying these items is appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course; and to require the State Board of Education to adopt rules and policies to implement the requirements of the bill.

Section 1

(a) A public school may offer elective courses in the study of the Bible in grades six to 12, inclusive, as follows: (1) A social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament of the Bible. (2) A social studies course on the New Testament of the Bible. (3) A social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament of the Bible. (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and policies necessary for implementing the requirements of this act.

Section 2

(a) Elective courses offered pursuant to this act shall be designed to do all of the following: (1) Teach students about Bible characters, poetry, and narratives that are useful for understanding history and contemporary society and culture, including art, music, social mores, oration, and public policy. (2) Familiarize students with the following: a. The contents of the Bible. b. The history of the Bible. c. The literary style and structure of the Bible. d. The influence of the Bible on law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and cultures. (b) A teacher of a course offered pursuant to this act shall comply with applicable law and all federal and state guidelines regarding maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives of students in the school. (c) A teacher of a course offered pursuant to this act may not endorse, favor, promote, disfavor, or show hostility toward any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. (d) The State Board of Education, in complying with this section, may not violate the United States Constitution, federal law, the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, state law, or any administrative rule or regulation of the United States Department of Education or the State Board of Education. (e) A school principal may authorize the display of historic artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts including, but not limited to, religious materials, if they are displayed in conjunction with a course of study that includes an elective course in history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, literature, or other subject area that uses the artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts as instructional material, as long as the display is appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course.

Section 3

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.