HB291 - Alabama Released Time Credit Act

• Authorizes local boards of education to allow students released time during the school day to participate in religious instruction courses conducted off school property by private entities.

• Requires parent or guardian written consent, sponsoring entity attendance record maintenance, liability assumption by the sponsoring entity, and prohibition on public funds except de minimis administrative costs.

• Prohibits public school personnel involvement in providing religious instruction and requires transportation to be arranged by the sponsoring private entity, parent, guardian, or student.

• Allows students in grades where credit is earned to receive elective course credit for released time participation, with credit not exceeding normal elective course credit and subject to State Board of Education attendance standards.

• Prohibits students from being released from required core curriculum classes to attend released time; time spent counts toward actual school day attendance.