A bill for an act relating to students who attend a course in religious instruction that is provided by a private organization, including by modifying provisions related to compulsory education and chronic absenteeism and allowing school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to adopt policies related to awarding academic credit for the completion of a course in religious instruction.

SF 280 allows public school districts, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to create policies enabling students to earn academic credit for completing religious instruction courses provided by private organizations. The bill requires schools to evaluate such courses based on instructional hours, assessment methods, and instructor qualifications - without considering religious content or denominational affiliation - while prohibiting absences for these courses from counting toward chronic absenteeism (defined as exceeding 10% of school days). It also mandates that parents notify schools in advance, limits religious instruction absences to five hours weekly, requires private organizations to maintain attendance records, and ensures students make up missed schoolwork. Schools must comply with these requirements when adopting related policies under Section 279.87.