Date Published: May 24, 2006   

Bills would give class credit for religion, sign language

The Associated Press

A bill that would allow high school students to earn credit toward graduation for taking an off-campus religious class received key approval Wednesday in the House.

State law already allows public school students to take the off-campus courses during a free period. The measure, approved 94-15, would let students earn up to two elective course credits for taking them.

School districts would determine whether to give the credit based on criteria such as a course's instruction time, syllabus, testing methods and teacher qualifications.

The Senate passed a slightly different version of the bill in April.

The House also gave key approval Wednesday to a bill that lets high school students earn foreign language credit by taking sign language classes. Supporters of the measure, passed by the Senate in March, hope it will encourage students to learn sign language and increase deaf students' interaction with their peers.

American Sign Language classes currently count as electives. Most four-year colleges require students earn at least two foreign language credits.