A Tennessee public school district is giving students credit for religious courses

A Tennessee public school district has approved a policy allowing high school students to receive graduation credit for religious classes taken outside of school.

The board of Knox County Schools (KCS) approved the policy in a 7-1 vote Thursday after two days of deliberation. The decision comes after a new state law took effect in June allowing students to earn up to one credit for completing a released-time course.

A released-time course allows a student to be “excused from school to attend a course in religious moral instruction taught by an independent entity off school property,” according to Tenn. Code 49-2-130. 

KCS’s policy deems a released-time course eligible for credit if the duration of the course is equivalent to the length of time students are excused from their public schools’ instruction, according to News Channel 9. 

Despite the policy receiving nearly unanimous approval, some board members had expressed concern about the proposal. But board member Susan Horn argued that it came down to giving parents and students the right to choose.

“This issue goes back to students and parents having the right to direct their own educational experience. …I’m not sure why we wouldn’t want to give credit to a class that would include tests and assignments and course,” Horn said, telling her peers that “this board does not get into the business of details.”

Several other states have implemented a version of released-time courses, including South Carolina, North Dakota, Iowa, California, Arizona and New Mexico.

KCS’s policy will take effect this fall.