Bill Text: VA SB1502 | 2019 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Public schools; electives on the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament and the New Testament.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-02-19 - Left in Appropriations [SB1502 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-SB1502-Engrossed.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §22.1-202.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-202.1. Comparative religion; Hebrew Scriptures; New Testament; elective courses.
A. The Board of Education shall authorize local school
boards to offer, as an elective in grades nine through 12 with
appropriate credits toward graduation, a comparative religion class that
focuses on the basic tenets, history, and religious observances and rites of
world religions.
B. [ Local school boards shall The
Board of Education shall authorize local school boards to ] offer as an
elective in grades nine through 12 with appropriate credits toward graduation a
course on (i) the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament of the Bible; (ii) the New
Testament of the Bible; or (iii) a combined course on both. The Board of
Education shall develop Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for
such courses. The purpose of any such course is to introduce students to
biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to
understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art,
music, mores, oratory, and public policy. Each such course shall be designed to
familiarize students with the contents, history, and literary style and
structure of the relevant texts and their influence on law, history,
government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture.
C. No student who participates in a course offered pursuant to this section shall be required to use a specific translation of a religious text as the sole textbook for the course, and a student may use a different translation from that chosen by the local school board.
D. Any course offered pursuant to this section shall follow all applicable state and federal laws and all state and federal guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives of enrolled students. No such course shall endorse, favor, promote, disfavor, or show hostility toward any particular religion or nonreligious perspective.
