SB99 / HB216 – Mandated Ten Commandments Displays in Public Schools

Background:  SB99/HB216 would require local boards of education to display the Ten Commandments and a context statement in U.S. history classrooms serving grades 5-12 and in school common areas where students grade 5 and above are served. The mandate is conditioned on donated displays or donated funds, directing the State Department of Education to identify free resources. The bill sets implementation to begin January 1, 2027, and includes specific size and design requirements. Displays would need to be at least 11x14 inches with design approval by the State Superintendent.

Our Position:   We oppose SB99/HB216. Public schools are not a place for the government to mandate religious doctrine on classroom walls. This bill elevates one religious tradition in a way that risks violating the constitutional promise of religious freedom for all, including students of minority faiths and nonreligious students. Alabama’s classrooms should be welcoming and inclusive, not turned into a battleground over state-sponsored religion. This mandate distracts schools from their core mission: educating students, not promoting religious observance.