KRS 158.197: Elective course on religious scripture -- Purpose -- Restrictions --

School council or governing body authorized to display historic religious

and nonreligious artifacts, monuments, symbols, and texts in conjunction

with course of study.

(1) A school-based decision making council under administrative regulations of the

Kentucky Board of Education may offer students in grade nine (9) or above:

(a) An elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old

Testament of the Bible;

(b) An elective social studies course on the New Testament of the Bible; or

(c) An elective social studies course on the Hebrew Scriptures and the New

Testament of the Bible.

(2) The purpose of a course under this section is to:

(a) Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and

narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society

and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public

policy; and

(b) Familiarize students with, as applicable:

1. The contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament;

2. The history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament;

3. The literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament; and

4. The influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament on law,

history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values,

and culture.

(3) A student shall not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text of

the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as the basic textbook a

different translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament from that

chosen by the school council.

(4) A course offered under this section shall follow applicable law and all federal

and state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the

diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives of students in the school. A

course under this section shall not endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or

show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious

perspective. A school-based decision making council, in complying with this

section, shall not violate any provision of the United States Constitution or

federal law, the Kentucky Constitution or any state law, or any administrative

regulations of the United States Department of Education or the Kentucky

Department of Education.

(5) Any school council organized pursuant to KRS 160.345 or, if none exists, the

principal, may authorize the display of historic artifacts, monuments, symbols,

and texts, including but not limited to religious materials, in conjunction with a

course of study that includes an elective course in history, civilization, ethics,

comparative religion, literature, or other subject area that uses such artifacts,

monuments, symbols, and texts as instructional material if the display is:

(a) Appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course; and

(b) Consistent with the requirements of KRS 42.705.