Under existing law, local boards of education may implement policies relating to elective credit for students who attend religious released time instruction, provided local boards of education are not liable for the student during released time or responsible for transportation to and from the place of released time. This bill would allow parents to choose for their public school student to attend a religious released time program sponsored by a church or local community-based religious organization, unless the local board of education or a designee of that board, determines the participation would pose a substantial risk of physical harm to the student. This bill would provide that the State Board of Education and each local board of education may implement a policy relating to released time which requires the sponsoring entity to meet certain requirements, including conducting criminal background checks on employees or contractors likely to have direct contact with students excused for released time. This bill would specify that the State Board of Education, any local board of education, and any employee of either board may not sponsor, supervise, or otherwise control religious released time. This bill would specify that students attending released time maintain responsibility for any missed school work. This bill would also provide that it may not be construed to endorse any religious belief, limit the authority of local boards of education over school schedules, or limit the authority of local boards of education to tailor a religious released time policy.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-1-20