Public Hearing Held on Controversial Bill Requiring Academic Credits for Religious Instruction
A public hearing took place Wednesday regarding Alabama’s proposed HB342, a bill that mandates school districts to implement policies allowing students to earn academic credit for attending religious schooling outside classroom hours. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), aims to empower parents to decide their children’s participation in religious instruction.
Currently, religious release time programs permit public school students to attend private, funded religious education. DuBose emphasized that while the bill requires schools to adopt flexible policies tailored to community needs, it ensures that core classes remain unaffected, limiting absences to one hour without imposing transportation responsibilities on public schools.
Supporters, including Derek Stemen, Vice President of LifeWise Academy, argue that the bill aligns with parental choice in religious education. The Ohio-based nonprofit, which provides Bible education during school hours, actively advocates for similar legislation across the country. LifeWise, known for its substantial revenue—over $35 million in fiscal year 2023-2024—currently serves over 500 schools nationwide, including two in Alabama.
Conversely, critics like Scott Suttle, President of the St. Clair County Board of Education, voiced concerns over government overreach and the lack of grassroots support for such legislation. He accused LifeWise of pushing a manufactured agenda rather than responding to local demands for religious release time policies.
Additionally, lawmakers raised questions regarding the curriculum offered by LifeWise Academy, which critics claim may be discriminatory, particularly against LGBTQ+ individuals and non-Christian beliefs. Although the committee did not vote on the bill during the hearing, they plan to address it next week, as the debate on religious education in public schools intensifies.
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