Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that allows school districts to adopt curriculum standards for an academic study of the Bible that may be offered as an elective course.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Education to allow for an elective academic study of the Bible course or courses that consist of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible and its influence on interdisciplinary studies to be offered to students in public school districts, if the course meets the following curriculum standards (Sec. 1):
• Academic rigor and standards of other elective courses approved by the state board; and
• Requirements of the Arkansas Constitution and the United States Constitution.

• Establishes standards for the manner in which the course is taught in the classroom and the assignment of school district personnel teaching the course (Sec. 1):
• Personnel assigned to teach the course shall be licensed to teach in the State of Arkansas; and
• Personnel shall not be assigned to teach the course based on any of the following:
• Religious test;
• Profession of faith or lack of faith;
• Prior or present religious affiliation or lack of affiliation; or
• Criteria involving particular beliefs or lack of beliefs about the Bible.

• Requires that an academic study of the Bible course offered by a public school shall (Sec. 1):
• Be taught in an objective and non-devotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials or texts from other religious or cultural traditions;
• Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions; and
• Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious beliefs.

Full Bill Text