House education panel tables bill to permit release‑time religious instruction during school day

At a meeting of the House Education Committee, lawmakers debated House Bill 133 (LC492137), a measure introduced by Representative Clark that would allow parents to enroll students in off‑campus "release‑time" religious instruction during the school day and would permit local school systems to create policies to implement such programs.

The bill would authorize public schools to permit release‑time courses during school hours for students whose parents sign consent forms. Representative Clark, the bill’s sponsor, described the proposal as voluntary for parents and local systems and said the measure merely “allows parents who wanna sign their kids up during school hours.”

Why it matters

Supporters said the measure would expand options for families and retain students who otherwise might leave public schools for private religious instruction. Supporters cited national examples and data from large providers, telling committee members that some programs operate in hundreds of schools and report improved attendance and reductions in bullying.

Opponents and many questioners raised implementation and liability concerns. Committee members pressed for clarity about: who vets and insures outside organizations that transport or instruct children during the school day; whether background checks should be mandatory for organizations that have repeated contact with…