SB278 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Section 16-1-20.6 to establish the "Alabama Released Time Credit Act" allowing students to earn elective course credit for attending religious instruction during the school day.

• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt policies permitting released time programs, with religious instruction conducted off school property by private entities and funded without public money (except de minimis administrative costs).

• Released time participation requires written parental consent, sponsoring entity maintenance of attendance records, assumption of liability by the sponsoring entity, and no involvement of public school personnel in instruction.

• Students earning elective credit for released time must be counted as present during the actual school day, with credit not exceeding normal elective course credit amounts and subject to State Board minimum attendance standards.

• Effective July 1, 2025; local boards that adopted released time policies prior to that date are not required to amend them if they comply with applicable laws.