80

Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

§70-11-101.3. Released time course — Policy — Requirements.

A. As used in this section, “released time course” means a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious or moral instruction taught by an independent entity off school property.

B. Each school district board of education shall adopt a policy that excuses a student from school to attend a released time course for no more than three class periods per week or a maximum of one hundred twenty-five class periods per school year; provided, that:
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.

C. The school district, its board of education, and the state shall not be liable for the student who participates in a released time course when the student is not under the control or supervision of the school district. Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 526

D. Instructors hired by an independent entity to provide a released time course shall not be required to be licensed or certified teachers.

E. A student who attends a released time course shall be considered in attendance in the school district, and the time shall be calculated as part of the school day.

F. A school district board of education shall award a student credit for work completed in a released time course that is substantiated by a transcript from the independent entity providing the course. A student shall be awarded elective credit for the completion of each released time course. To determine whether elective credit may be awarded as provided for in this subsection, the board of education shall evaluate the course in a neutral and secular manner that does not involve any test for religious content or denominational affiliation. For purposes of this subsection, the secular criteria used to evaluate a released time course may include:
1. The amount of classroom instruction time;
2. The course syllabus, which reflects the course requirements and any materials used in the course;
3. Methods of assessment used in the course; and
4. The qualifications of the course instructor.

G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to charter schools established pursuant to Section 3-132 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes or charter schools or virtual charter schools established pursuant to Section 3-134 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 2024, c. 374, § 1.

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.