In the House Education Policy Committee today, a public hearing was held on HB342, sponsored by State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), requiring school boards to implement a released-time policy and provide elective credit for religious instruction courses.
Despite strong support from parents and communities, many school boards have refused to adopt these policies.
Released time programs, which allow students to leave school for religious instruction without any cost to the state or local districts, are gaining popularity across Alabama. However, under current law, even when they do implement the policy, school boards are not required to provide elective credit.
The Alabama State School Board Association is opposing the bill , arguing that the decision to implement released-time policies should rest with the school boards, not parents. This legislation aims to change the current law to give parents more control over their children’s education, regardless of their location or school district.
Scott Suttle, president of the St. Clair County Board of Education and president-elect of AASB, testified that school boards are not against released-time policies but are concerned about government overreach.
“Forcing school boards to have a released-time policy is just another example of government overreach, and it’s contrary to the philosophy of school boards in this state,” Suttle said. He warned that a mandate could remove school boards’ ability to determine which programs are permissible.
“If the Baptist and the Methodist or the Satanic Cult or the local Wiccan want to have religious release time, we would have no choice but to allow that,” he added.
On the other side, parents expressed frustration over school districts refusing to implement released-time programs despite community support. Jennifer Riggs, a mother of four from Madison County, shared her family’s struggle to introduce a religious education program in their district.
“We were denied the opportunity to meet with our superintendent in person, and we were told no, that we could not bring a program like LifeWise Academy into our school,” Riggs testified. She stressed that more than 100 parents in her community wanted the program but faced bureaucratic roadblocks.
Milner’s primary concern was a specific provision in the bill requiring that released-time courses “shall” be awarded elective credit rather than “may” be awarded.
“This is extremely problematic,” Milner told the committee, arguing that local districts should retain control over their curricula.
The debate also touched on concerns about academic rigor. Suttle warned that granting elective credit for released-time programs without oversight could “undermine our efforts to educate students” and put school boards in a difficult position. However, students may only earn credit if they are up to the standards set by the State Board of Education.
A notable 4,000 Alabamians have signed petitions in favor of Released Time programs, representing 146 school districts. This widespread support highlights the demand for these programs. Jefferson County Schools, Alabama’s second-largest school system, has already approved a Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) policy, but many schools still lack formal policies.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Zorach v. Clauson (1952) provides clear guidance on the constitutionality and legality of Released Time programs. As long as schools follow established guidelines, they are not at risk of legal challenges. The Alabama Department of Education has developed a model policy for districts to use, but many school boards have yet to adopt it, despite the clear interest from the community.
After today’s public hearing, the bill will be voted on later this month. Wednesday was day 12 of the 2025 state legislative session.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
