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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: ED DP 4-2-1-0 | Third Read 16-10-4-0
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SB 1741: public schools; released time courses
Sponsor: Senator Petersen, LD 14
Caucus & COW
Overview
Mandates a charter school governing body (governing body) and school district governing board (governing board) allow students to attend a released time course during regular school hours, subject to prescribed requirements.
History
Each governing board and governing body must adopt a policy governing the excuse of students for religious purposes that may allow a student to be excused from school attendance for religious purposes, including participation in religious exercises or instruction. If the policy allows a student to be excused for religious purposes, the policy must detail the conditions for the excuse to be granted to the student, including the requirements that the: 1) person with custody of the student give written consent; and 2) religious instruction or exercise take place at a suitable place away from school property designated by the church or religious denomination or group (A.R.S. § 15-806).
Provisions
1. Requires each governing body and governing board to allow students to attend a released time course during regular school hours if:
a. the school receives written consent from the parent of each participating student;
b. the released time course provider:
i. records the attendance of each participating student and provides copies of the attendance records to the charter school or school district;
ii. assumes all legal responsibility for each participating student while the student is under the provider's control;
iii. provides religious instruction to participating students for between 1-5 hours weekly; and
iv. demonstrates that the released time course instructor has similar qualifications as the charter school's or school district's instructors;
c. any necessary transportation services relating to a released time course are provided by the released time course provider, participating students or the parents of participating students; and
d. each participating student is responsible for completing any schoolwork the student misses because of released time course attendance. (Sec. 1, 2)
2. Stipulates each charter school and school district that allows students to attend a released time course must:
a. award academic credit to each student who successfully completes the released time course; and
b. count any time a student spends participating in a released time course during regular school hours as instructional time and hours to meet instructional time and hours requirements and to determine average daily membership and daily attendance. (Sec. 1, 2)
3. Instructs a charter school and school district to determine how much credit to award for the released time course by using only secular criteria that are substantially the same as the criteria that the charter school uses to evaluate similar courses, including
a. the number of hours of classroom instructional time;
b. the course requirements and instructional materials used for the released time course according to the syllabus; and
c. student assessments conducted by the released time course provider. (Sec. 1, 2)
4. Prohibits a charter school or school district from:
a. incurring expenses to provide a released time course;
b. allowing a released time course to be provided on school property; or
c. denying any released time course provider equal access to monies, benefits or services the charter school or school district provides to other community groups or independent entities. (Sec. 1, 2)
5. Grants any person who is adversely affected by a violation of the released time course requirements a private cause of action for relief available under law against the charter school or school district. (Sec. 1, 2)
6. Cites this legislation as the Arizona Released Time Education Act. (Sec. 3)
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10. Initials CH SB 1741
11. 3/11/2026 Page 0 Caucus & COW
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