SB4 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Religious instruction; elective credit for release time further provided for

Summary

SB4 would require Alabama school districts to implement policies allowing elective credit for students released during the school day to attend religious instruction, with local boards tailoring the details.

What This Bill Does

Local boards must implement a policy permitting elective credit for students who attend religious instruction during the school day after release from class, and boards may tailor the policy to fit their local needs. The released-time instruction would be provided by a private sponsor off school property; attendance records must be kept and shared with the public school, and the sponsor assumes liability while public funds are not spent beyond de minimis costs and no public school personnel are involved. If credit is earned, it would count as elective credit within the normal elective-credit limit and the time would be counted as part of the school day; students must not be released from required core curriculum.

Who It Affects

• Students who participate in released-time programs for religious instruction: may earn elective credit for the time spent in released-time courses, and the time is counted as part of the school day subject to attendance rules.
• Local boards of education and sponsoring private entities (and the parents/guardians who consent): must implement, administer, and oversee the policy, including consent, record-keeping, liability, and transportation arrangements, with no public school personnel involvement.

Key Provisions

• Requires each local board of education to implement a policy allowing elective credit for students released for religious instruction during the school day, with local tailoring allowed.
• Released time is defined as a period during the school day when a student attends off-site religious instruction provided by a private entity; time can be counted toward elective credit.
• Conditions for credit include parental written consent, attendance records maintained by the sponsoring entity and provided to the student's school, the sponsor assuming liability, no public funds beyond de minimis costs, and no public school personnel involvement.
• Credit earned may count as elective credit but cannot exceed the normal elective-credit amount; minimum attendance standards will be set by the State Board of Education.
• Transportation to and from released time is the responsibility of the sponsoring entity, parent/guardian, or student; public schools are not responsible.
• No student may be released from a required core curriculum class to attend released time.
• The policy may be tailored to local needs but must comply with applicable law, and boards with policies adopted before July 1, 2026 may keep them without amendment.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education