New State Law Allows Students To Leave School For Religious Classes

A new state law that allows religious instruction during a school day is creating some controversy.

House Bill 1425 will allow students to leave school for up to three class periods a week for outside religious instruction.

The bill narrowly passed out of the House and Senate with pushback from Republicans and Democrats, but it was ultimately signed by the Governor on June 5. News 9 sat down with the state superintendent to discuss how he envisions this program working. 

“Love it, love it,” said State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters says he’s a champion for House Bill 1425, calling for religious expression in Oklahoma schools.

“It's very important that we protect our religious liberties. It's one of the most foundational liberties we have as a country so we want to protect those things,” said Walters.

The new law creates a “released time course,” or a class period where a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious or moral instruction. “What you do is you allow churches to go in and they apply to the school board, to say I want to offer this type of course,” said Walters.

Walters says the Oklahoma State Department of Education is working with local school boards to set parameters.

“We need more involvement from churches and religious groups in our schools,” said Walters.

Now, The Satanic Temple says they have plans to participate. A post to social media says that the signing of this bill makes “Oklahoma the first state to offer students school credit for The Satanic Temple’s religious and morality classes.”

“Not gonna happen,” said Walters. 

During this legislative session, this was one of the arguments from lawmakers. They said the bill was too vague and would open it up without enough oversight into the curriculum.

Walters says OSDE will only allow recognized religions to participate.

“We will never allow Satanists into our schools,” said Walters.

Rep. Mickey Dollens (D- Oklahoma City), shared this on social media in response to Walters:

The bill would allow students to be released for up to three class periods each week, or a maximum of 125 per year.

Additionally, the law has the following parameters:

1. The student’s parent or legal guardian provides written consent prior to the student’s participation in the released time course;

2. No school district funds other than de minimis administrative costs are expended and no school district personnel, equipment, or resources are involved in providing the instruction;

3. The independent entity maintains attendance records and makes them available to the school district and its board of education;

4. Any transportation provided to and from the place of instruction is the sole responsibility of the independent entity, the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian;

5. The independent entity or the student’s parent or legal guardian indemnifies the school district and holds it harmless with regard to any liability arising from conduct that does not occur on school property under the control or supervision of the school district, and the independent entity maintains adequate insurance for that purpose;

6. The student assumes responsibility for any missed school work; and

7. The school district superintendent, the principal for the school site in which the student is enrolled, or their designees have reasonable discretion over the scheduling and timing of released time courses; provided, the student may not be excused to participate in a released time course during any class in which the subject matter being taught is subject to the assessment requirements of Section 1210.508 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

“It is the free expression of those beliefs, you don't have to express them, we're not forcing you to,” said Walters.

Even in the midst of two court cases against the state's catholic charter school, Walters says he’s not worried about this new law violating the constitution.

“Look: the separation of church and state is a complete myth, the supreme court justices made it up,” said Walters. “I think frankly it's crucial for the future of our country and our state that we have strong faith-based communities so I'm going to continue doing all that I can to support that,” said Walters.

The law will not apply to charter schools. It is set to go into effect on November 1.