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A new Indiana law enacted July 1 requires principals to allow students to be dismissed from class during the week to attend religious instruction.
House Enrolled Act 1137 allows students enrolled in a public school to attend up to two hours of religious instruction per week.
Whereas the law previously stated a principal may grant the student permission to attend the instruction, HEA 1137 now requires that permission be granted.
For supporters of the law, this change means an opportunity for students to build crucial personal skills that will serve them beyond the classroom.
Though some have questioned why the instruction needs to happen during the school day, Representative Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer), the author of the original bill, said it works best at that time.
In motivating his decision to author the bill, Culp said he believes the decision to attend religious instruction shouldn’t be left to the schools.
“It just seemed to me that the parents should be making that decision, not the school administrator,” he said. “So that’s when I introduced the language, basically just changed the word from ‘may’ to ‘shall’, but it also required collaboration between the parent and the school to find the best time, and the least disruptive time, for the student to be released.”
If the classes were after school, they’d compete with after school activities. Further, it takes a burden off parents who might not be able to take their kids to lessons because of work, he said.
School Ministries and other programs like it must provide transportation for students to and from their school.
States with similar laws
Indiana is one of 16 states with law requiring schools to let students attend religious instruction, according to data from Released Time Religious Education, a division of School Ministries.
School Ministries is an organization that supports religious instruction programs for public school students across the United States. A division of School Ministries, Released Time is a tool to educate the public on released time religious instruction.
While most states do not have laws dedicated to religious instruction, many states allow school boards to create policy on the topic, so long as the religious programs follow a certain set of criteria, according to Released Time’s website. This usually involves the following guidelines:
- The school cannot fund the program
- The program cannot take place on school grounds
- Students’ participation in the program must be voluntary
In states without specific law for or against religious instruction, student participation is determined by the school board or district. In states where it’s required, the law is directed at school boards, districts or even principals.
In Arizona, state law requires school districts to adopt a policy outlining the circumstances in which students can be released from regular school hours for religious purposes.
In Florida, school boards must adopt a policy allowing students to be released to participate in religious instruction if the parent requests it.
Other states taking similar approaches include Hawaii, Michigan, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania.
Where they differ, however, is how long and how often students can attend these programs.
While students in Hawaii can attend religious classes for up to 60 minutes per week, in Idaho, students in 9th through 12th grades are excused for up to five class periods per week.
Indiana state law caps program participation at 120 minutes per week, and students can only attend if their parent requests it.
Students benefit from religious instruction, advocates say
Kathie Mower, Indiana State Director for School Ministries of Indiana, said that in using lessons and themes from the program’s textbook, the Bible, students develop crucial relationship skills, wisdom, and confidence.
And it’s the parents who are pushing for those lessons to be instilled in their kids.
“Parents are realizing that they’re wanting more for their children,” she said.
Culp began researching the topic after parents in his district expressed their desire to start a group that offers this programming offsite.
Some schools, however, were against it.
While he understands that not all school communities would support such instruction, he believes the programs teach students valuable lessons that support their learning in the traditional classroom.
“What I’ve heard from other programs, or other schools that have this program, is once the students are in the classroom, they’ve been through this training, they’re actually more attentive, they’re better disciplined, and so there’s actually more learning from the class setting that takes place because of what they’ve learned,” he said.
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