(a) A public school may offer elective courses in the objective study of the Bible and religious history in grades six to 12, inclusive, as follows:

Terms Used In Alabama Code 16-40-20

  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(1) A social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament of the Bible.
(2) A social studies course on the Greek Scriptures of the New Testament of the Bible.
(3) A social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament and the Greek Scriptures of the New Testament of the Bible.
(4) A social studies course in religious history.
(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and policies necessary for implementing the requirements of this article, including a requirement that curriculum standards submitted by a public school or school district for approval of an elective study of the Bible course shall meet the academic rigor and curriculum standards of other elective courses approved by the board.