Alabama Laws Regarding Church Schools!

Law’s Set by Alabama for Church School, Homeschool, and Private School!

This is directly from the .gov site! Here is the link to the Alabama Law, Scroll to Alabama.

16-1-11. Private schools to register and report. All private schools or institutions of any kind having a school in connection therewith, except church schools as defined in Section 16-28-1, shall register annually on or before October 10 with the department of education and shall report on uniform blanks furnished by the state superintendent of education, giving such statistics as relate to the number of pupils, the number of instructors, enrollment, attendance, course of study, length of term, cost of tuition, funds, value of property and the general condition of the school. (School Code 1927, Section 599; Code 1940, T. 52, Section 547.)

16-28-1. Private School. (A) The term “private school” as used in this chapter, shall mean and only include such schools as hold a certificate issued by the state superintendent of education, showing that such school conforms to the following requirements: (1)The instruction in such schools shall be by persons holding certificates issued by the state superintendent of education; (2) Instruction shall be offered in the several branches of study required to be taught in the public schools of this state; (3) The English language shall be used in giving instructions; (4) A register of attendance shall be kept which clearly indicates every absence of each child from such school for a half day or more during each school day of the school year; (B) The term church school, as used in this chapter, shall mean and only include such schools as offer instruction in grades K-12, or any combination thereof including the kindergarten, elementary, or secondary level and are operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, and/or association of churches of a nonprofit basis which do not receive any state or federal funding. (School Code1927, Section 302; Code 1940, T. 52, Section 299.)

16-28-3. Ages of children required to attend school. Every child between the ages of seven and 16 years shall be required to attend public school, private school, church school, or be instructed by a competent private tutor for the entire length of the school term in every scholastic year except that every child attending a church school as defined in 16-28-1 is exempt from the requirements of this section, provided such child complies with enrollment and reporting procedure specified in Section 16-28-7, Code of Alabama 1975. Admission to a public school shall be on an individual basis on the application of the parents, legal custodian or guardian of the child to the local board of education at the beginning of each school year, under such rules and regulations as the board may prescribe. (School Code 1927, Section 301; Code 1940, T. 52, Section 297; Acts 1956, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 117, p.446, Section 3.)

16-28-7. Report on enrollment. At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public school, the principal teacher of each public school, private school, and each private tutor, but not a church school, shall report on forms prescribed by the state superintendent of education to the county superintendent of education. The enrollment and attendance of a child in a church school shall be filled with the local public school superintendent by the parent, guardian or other person in charge or control of the child on a form provided by the superintendent or his agent which shall be countersigned by the administrator of the church school and returned to the public school superintendent by the parent. Should said child cease attendance at a church school, the parent, guardian, or another person in charge or control of the child shall by prior consent at the time of enrollment direct the church school to notify the local public school superintendent or his agent that said child no longer is in attendance at a church school. (School Code 1927, Section 309; Code 1940, T. 52, Section 306.)

16-28-8. Reports required must be furnished. All school officers, including those in private schools, or private tutors, but not those in church schools, in this state, offering instruction to pupils within the compulsory attendance ages, shall make and furnish all reports the may be required by the state superintendent of education and by the county superintendent of education or by the board of education of any city with reference to the workings of this chapter. The principal teacher of each public school, private school, church school, and each private tutor shall keep an attendance register showing the enrollment of the school and every absence of each enrolled child from school for a half day or more during each school day of the year. (School Code 1927, Section 310; Code1940, T. 52, Section 307.)

Curriculum

Private schools, but not church schools, are required to use the English language in giving instruction. Code of Alabama 1975§16-28-1(1).
Private schools, but not church schools, are required to offer instruction in “the several branches of study required to be taught in public schools.” Code of Alabama 1975 §16-28-1(1).
Private schools, but not church schools, must provide a physical education program that conforms to the program outlined by the Alabama Department of Education. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-40-1.

Recordkeeping and Reports

At the end of the fifth day from the opening of the public school, the principal teacher of each private school, but not a church school, must report to the local superintendent the names and addresses of all children enrolled; and thereafter, at least weekly the names of students absent without excuse. Code of Alabama. 1975 §16-28-7.
The principal teacher of private and church schools must keep an attendance register showing the enrollment of the school and every absence of each enrolled child from school for a half-day or more. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-28-8. The registry is admissible as evidence in compulsory attendance hearings. Code of Alabama 1975 §16-28-23.