public schools; released time courses

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What Changed

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• Apr 1, 2026
  DP

  Houseinformal-passage
• Jun 8, 2026
  PASSED

  Housepassagereading-3
• Jun 8, 2026
  Transmit to Senate

  House
• Jun 9, 2026
  Transmit to Governor

  Office of the Governorexecutive-receipt
• Jun 18, 2026
  Vetoed by Governor

  Office of the Governorexecutive-veto

Roll-Call Votes

• do pass

  committee-passagefail

  Senate · Feb 24, 2026

  0 yes0 no0 other0 absent0 excused0 not voting

• Passed

  passagepass

  Senate · Feb 24, 2026

  16 yes10 no0 other0 absent0 excused4 not voting

• do pass

  committee-passagefail

  House · Apr 1, 2026

  0 yes0 no0 other0 absent0 excused0 not voting

• Passed

  passagepass

  House · Jun 8, 2026

  31 yes24 no0 other0 absent0 excused5 not voting

Documents

• HOUSE SUMMARY: 03/06/2026 Education

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• HOUSE SUMMARY: 03/12/2026 Caucus & COW

  HTML →

• HOUSE SUMMARY: 04/06/2026 House Engrossed

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• SENATE FACT SHEET: 02/16/2026 ED

  HTML →

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 1, article 8, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-189.08, to read:
15-189.08. Released time courses; requirements; private cause
of action
A. EACH CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY SHALL ALLOW STUDENTS TO
ATTEND A RELEASED TIME COURSE DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS IF ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ARE MET:
1. THE SCHOOL RECEIVES WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PARENT OF EACH
PARTICIPATING STUDENT.
2. THE PROVIDER OF THE RELEASED TIME COURSE DOES ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING:
(a) RECORDS THE ATTENDANCE OF EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT AND
PROVIDES COPIES OF THE ATTENDANCE RECORDS TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
(b) ASSUMES ALL LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT
WHILE THE STUDENT IS UNDER THE PROVIDER'S CONTROL.
(c) PROVIDES RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS FOR AT
LEAST ONE HOUR BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE HOURS PER WEEK.
(d) DEMONSTRATES THAT THE INSTRUCTOR OF THE RELEASED TIME COURSE
HAS SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS AS INSTRUCTORS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE CHARTER
SCHOOL.
3. 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.
4. EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING ANY
SCHOOLWORK THAT THE STUDENT MISSES BECAUSE THE STUDENT ATTENDS A RELEASED
TIME COURSE.
B. EACH CHARTER SCHOOL THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ATTEND A RELEASED
TIME COURSE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION A OF THIS SECTION SHALL:
1. AWARD ACADEMIC CREDIT TO EACH STUDENT WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES
THE RELEASED TIME COURSE. THE CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL 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 ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(a) THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
(b) THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE
USED FOR THE RELEASED TIME COURSE ACCORDING TO THE SYLLABUS.
(c) STUDENT ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE CONDUCTED BY THE RELEASED TIME
COURSE PROVIDER.
2. COUNT ANY TIME THAT A STUDENT SPENDS PARTICIPATING IN A RELEASED
TIME COURSE DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS AS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND
INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SECTIONS
15-797, 15-808 AND 15-901 AND TO DETERMINE AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP AND
DAILY ATTENDANCE.
C. A CHARTER SCHOOL MAY NOT:
1. INCUR EXPENSES TO PROVIDE A RELEASED TIME COURSE.
2. ALLOW A RELEASED TIME COURSE TO BE PROVIDED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
D. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION C OF THIS SECTION, A CHARTER SCHOOL
MAY NOT DENY ANY RELEASED TIME COURSE PROVIDER EQUAL ACCESS TO MONIES,
BENEFITS OR SERVICES THAT THE CHARTER SCHOOL PROVIDES TO OTHER COMMUNITY
GROUPS OR INDEPENDENT ENTITIES.
E. ANY PERSON WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY A VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION HAS A PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, MONETARY
DAMAGES, REASONABLE COURT COSTS, REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES AND ANY OTHER
RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER LAW AGAINST THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 3, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding section 15-341.02, to read:
15-341.02. Released time courses; requirements; private cause
of action
A. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD SHALL ALLOW STUDENTS TO
ATTEND A RELEASED TIME COURSE DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS IF ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ARE MET:
1. THE SCHOOL RECEIVES WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE PARENT OF EACH
PARTICIPATING STUDENT.
2. THE PROVIDER OF THE RELEASED TIME COURSE DOES ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING:
(a) RECORDS THE ATTENDANCE OF EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT AND
PROVIDES COPIES OF THE ATTENDANCE RECORDS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
(b) ASSUMES ALL LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT
WHILE THE STUDENT IS UNDER THE PROVIDER'S CONTROL.
(c) PROVIDES RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION TO PARTICIPATING STUDENTS FOR AT
LEAST ONE HOUR BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE HOURS PER WEEK.
(d) DEMONSTRATES THAT THE INSTRUCTOR OF THE RELEASED TIME COURSE
HAS SIMILAR QUALIFICATIONS AS TEACHERS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
3. 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.
4. EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING ANY
SCHOOLWORK THAT THE STUDENT MISSES BECAUSE THE STUDENT ATTENDS A RELEASED
TIME COURSE.
B. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ATTEND A RELEASED
TIME COURSE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION A OF THIS SECTION SHALL:
1. AWARD ACADEMIC CREDIT TO EACH STUDENT WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES
THE RELEASED TIME COURSE. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL 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 SCHOOL
DISTRICT USES TO EVALUATE SIMILAR COURSES, INCLUDING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(a) THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
(b) THE COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT ARE
USED FOR THE RELEASED TIME COURSE ACCORDING TO THE SYLLABUS.
(c) STUDENT ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE CONDUCTED BY THE RELEASED TIME
COURSE PROVIDER.
2. COUNT ANY TIME THAT A STUDENT SPENDS PARTICIPATING IN A RELEASED
TIME COURSE DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS AS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND
INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SECTIONS
15-797, 15-808 AND 15-901 AND TO DETERMINE AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP AND
DAILY ATTENDANCE.
C. A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY NOT:
1. INCUR EXPENSES TO PROVIDE A RELEASED TIME COURSE.
2. ALLOW A RELEASED TIME COURSE TO BE PROVIDED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
D. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION C OF THIS SECTION, A SCHOOL DISTRICT
MAY NOT DENY ANY RELEASED TIME COURSE PROVIDER EQUAL ACCESS TO MONIES,
BENEFITS OR SERVICES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES TO OTHER COMMUNITY
GROUPS OR INDEPENDENT ENTITIES.
E. ANY PERSON WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY A VIOLATION OF THIS
SECTION HAS A PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, MONETARY
DAMAGES, REASONABLE COURT COSTS, REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES AND ANY OTHER
RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER LAW AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Sec. 3. Short title
This act may be cited as the "Arizona Released Time Education Act".