Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-11-101.3

A. As used in this section, “released time course” means a

period of time during which a student is excused from school to

attend a course in religious or moral instruction taught by an

independent entity off school property.

B. Each school district board of education shall adopt a policy

that excuses a student from school to attend a released time course

for no more than three class periods per week or a maximum of one

hundred twenty-five class periods per school year; provided, that:

1. The student’s parent or legal guardian provides written

consent prior to the student’s participation in the released time

course;

2. No school district funds other than de minimis

administrative costs are expended and no school district personnel,

equipment, or resources are involved in providing the instruction;

3. The independent entity maintains attendance records and

makes them available to the school district and its board of

education;

4. Any transportation provided to and from the place of

instruction is the sole responsibility of the independent entity,

the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian;

5. The independent entity or the student’s parent or legal

guardian indemnifies the school district and holds it harmless with

regard to any liability arising from conduct that does not occur on

school property under the control or supervision of the school

district, and the independent entity maintains adequate insurance

for that purpose;

6. The student assumes responsibility for any missed school

work; and

7. The school district superintendent, the principal for the

school site in which the student is enrolled, or their designees

have reasonable discretion over the scheduling and timing of

released time courses; provided, the student may not be excused to

participate in a released time course during any class in which the

subject matter being taught is subject to the assessment

requirements of Section 1210.508 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma

Statutes.

C. The school district, its board of education, and the state

shall not be liable for the student who participates in a released

time course when the student is not under the control or supervision

of the school district.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 525

D. Instructors hired by an independent entity to provide a

released time course shall not be required to be licensed or

certified teachers.

E. A student who attends a released time course shall be

considered in attendance in the school district, and the time shall

be calculated as part of the school day.

F. A school district board of education shall award a student

credit for work completed in a released time course that is

substantiated by a transcript from the independent entity providing

the course. A student shall be awarded elective credit for the

completion of each released time course. To determine whether

elective credit may be awarded as provided for in this subsection,

the board of education shall evaluate the course in a neutral and

secular manner that does not involve any test for religious content

or denominational affiliation. For purposes of this subsection, the

secular criteria used to evaluate a released time course may

include:

1. The amount of classroom instruction time;

2. The course syllabus, which reflects the course requirements

and any materials used in the course;

3. Methods of assessment used in the course; and

4. The qualifications of the course instructor.

G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to charter

schools established pursuant to Section 3-132 of Title 70 of the

Oklahoma Statutes or charter schools or virtual charter schools

established pursuant to Section 3-134 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma

Statutes.