East Tennessee school board votes down Bible Release Time policy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — An East Tennessee school board has voted against new rules for Bible Release Time and similar programs after parents raised concerns about what happens when some students are pulled from their classrooms for religious studies.

The Knox County Board of Education voted 5-4 not to create more standards for these programs.

Tennessee law says parents have the right to pull their children out of class for religious studies as long as it's not taxpayer funded.

Board members were asked to set rules to minimize class disruptions.

Members said the county can't change state law, so they should simply defer to what parents want for their children.