SB229 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Religious instruction, elective credit for release time further provided for

Summary

SB229 would require local boards of education to allow elective credit for students released from classroom to attend religious instruction during the school day, under a defined policy and conditions.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 16-1-20.6 to require each local board to adopt and implement a policy allowing released-time elective credit for religious instruction during the school day. The policy requires parental written consent, attendance records kept by the sponsoring entity, liability assumed by the sponsor, no public funds except de minimis administrative costs, and no public school personnel involved in providing the instruction. In grades where credit is earned, students may earn elective credit for released-time participation up to the normal amount for an elective course, with minimum attendance standards, and the time counts as part of the school day. Transportation for released time is the responsibility of the sponsor/parent/student, and a student cannot be released from a required core curriculum class. The act takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Students who participate in released-time religious instruction and may earn elective credit
• Parents/guardians who must provide written consent
• Sponsoring private entities that provide religious instruction (they handle records, liability, and transportation)
• Local boards of education and public schools (policy creation and adherence; public funds typically not used; public school personnel not involved)
• Students with disabilities (transportation for released time is the sponsor/parent/student responsibility, not public school personnel)

Key Provisions

• Local boards must adopt and implement a policy allowing released-time elective credit for religious instruction
• Parental consent in writing is required; sponsoring entity must maintain attendance records and provide them to the school
• Sponsoring entity must assume liability for the student; no public funds (beyond de minimis admin costs) may be used; no public school personnel may provide the instruction
• Eligible credit: earned as elective credit up to the normal elective credit for the school system; minimum attendance standards set by the State Board; credit counted as part of the school day
• Transportation for off-campus released time is the responsibility of the sponsor/parents/students; public school transportation personnel are not involved
• A student cannot be released from a required core curriculum class to attend released time
• Released time is defined as a period during the school day for off-district religious instruction conducted by a private entity
• Effective date is July 1, 2025

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education