State Allows Students To Leave School For Religious Instruction
Iowa has enacted a new law that permits students to participate in religious instruction during the regular school day, a move that some groups are praising as a win for parental rights. Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 870 into law on Friday, enabling parents to enroll their children in religious education classes offered by private organizations, provided that participation does not exceed five hours per week and parents notify their child’s school in advance.
The law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, receiving a 96-2 vote in the Iowa House of Representatives and unanimous approval in the Senate. The legislation outlines several key requirements: religious organizations offering the instruction must keep attendance records and accept full liability during the time students are under their supervision. Public schools are prohibited from using government funds or school facilities for these religious courses, and transportation to and from the instruction must be arranged by parents.
The law also ensures that students attending religious classes during school hours will not be labeled as “chronically absent.” Additionally, it grants parents the right to take legal action if a school or district prevents their child from participating in religious instruction during the school day.
Supporters argue the measure reinforces the rights of families to raise children in accordance with their faith. Greg Chafuen, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, emphasized that the law aligns with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1952 ruling in Zorach v. Clauson, which upheld similar “released time” programs as constitutionally sound and reflective of American tradition.
However, not all reactions have been positive. Critics, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), have voiced concerns that such programs detract from valuable classroom time and may unfairly impact students who choose not to participate. FFRF has cited reports of non-participating students being given meaningless busy work or extra assignments, which they argue amounts to indirect coercion.