SB278 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

The bill requires local school districts to allow elective credit for students who leave class during the school day to attend religious instruction off campus, under a district policy.

What This Bill Does

If passed, local boards of education must implement a policy allowing a student to attend released time for religious instruction as an elective course during the school day. The policy requires parental written consent, attendance records kept by the sponsoring entity and shared with the student's school, liability assumed by the sponsor, and no public funds beyond de minimis administrative costs or public school personnel involvement. Students may earn elective credit for released time (not exceeding normal elective credit) with attendance standards set by the State Board, and time spent released counts as part of the actual school day. Local boards may tailor policies to local needs, and existing policies adopted before July 1, 2025 do not need to be amended if they comply with the law; the act becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Students who participate in released time: may earn elective credit for religious instruction during the school day, and the time counts as part of the school day.
• Parents/guardians and sponsoring private entities: must provide consent, maintain and share attendance records, assume liability and transportation responsibilities, and ensure compliance with the policy (no public funds or school personnel involvement).

Key Provisions

• Defines 'released time' as a period during the school day when a student can participate in religious instruction off school district property conducted by a private entity.
• The State Board of Education shall adopt a policy and each local board must implement a policy allowing released time as an elective course if specified conditions are met.
• Consent, record-keeping, liability, limited public funding, and no involvement by public school personnel are required for released time arrangements.
• Elective credit may be earned for released time, not to exceed the normal elective credit, with attendance standards established by the State Board.
• Time spent in released time is counted as part of the actual school day.
• Transportation to and from released time is the responsibility of the sponsoring entity, parent/guardian, or student; public school personnel are not responsible.
• No student may be released from a required core curriculum class to attend released time.
• Local boards may tailor policies to local needs, provided they comply with this act and other laws; existing policies adopted before July 1, 2025 need not be amended if compliant.
• The act becomes effective 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