Alabama School Credit for Religious Instruction Bill Fails Committee Vote
MONTGOMERY, AL – A controversial bill aimed at requiring local school boards to adopt policies for granting academic credit for off-campus religious instruction was rejected by an Alabama House committee on Wednesday. Sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt and mirroring Rep. Susan DuBose’s previously failed HB 342, the bill aimed to enhance educational options by allowing public school students to attend religious classes during school hours.
DuBose described the legislation as a means of strengthening parental rights and enhancing religious freedom, asserting that approximately 4,500 parents have backed the proposal. Supporters, like Sunnie Cotton from LifeWise Academy, argue that the program would enable families to provide religious education for their children without the financial burden of private schools.
However, the bill has faced significant skepticism within the House, particularly from superintendents and educational leaders. Ryan Hollingsworth, executive director of the Alabama State Superintendents Association, voiced concerns over the petition supporting the bill, emphasizing it represented only a small fraction of Alabama’s 725,000 public school students. He criticized the bill’s lack of clarity regarding key definitions, arguing that current educational requirements are already demanding enough.
The committee’s vote ended in a tie, reflecting the divided opinions on this matter. Rep. Marcus Paramore expressed hesitance, highlighting the bill’s rejection in a previous committee as a key reason for his opposition. Advocates, including parents like Jennifer Riggs, see the legislation as a necessary provision for teaching biblical principles within the public school framework.
With the school year concluding, this failed bill could mark the end of efforts to formalize religious instruction as a school-sanctioned elective, pending any last-minute attempts by House committees before the legislative session ends on May 14.
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