Knox County School Board approves first off-site Bible class

Students at Knoxville’s Farragut High School will be able to earn a full elective course credit in Bible studies next school year.

Tennessee is one of several states that provide parents with the ability to request released time for their children, allowing schools to excuse a student to participate in an off-campus religious instruction.

Last year, the Tennessee State legislature voted to extend the credit amount of a release-time course from a half-course to a full elective course credit so long as the local district allows it.

Knox County School Board members voted in July to approve a policy for release-time. Thursday’s approval for an agreement with Anchor Learning Center to provide the Bible class to Farragut High School students is the first use of the new policy.

Anchor Learning Center will begin providing these classes in July and the agreement will continue until June 30, 2029.

Board member Butler questioned the board’s role with the change.

“This is a state law that increases a half-credit to a full credit? And so basically our job is to make sure they’re following state law?” asked Butler.

Butler was the only member to pass in the 7 to 1 vote approving the agreement with Anchor Learning Center.

The course will offer two courses introductory courses, one for the Old Testament and one for the New Testament in the Bible. According to the course’s syllabus, the learning objectives for the Introductory Old Testament course will include:

1. To introduce to students to a chronological study of the Bible.
2. To teach students that the Bible is a historical document and is true, trustworthy, and transformational.
3. To help students understand that, according to the Bible, God created the universe and mankind.
4. To enable students to know the basic historical facts of the Old Testament leading up to the New Testament gospel accounts.
5. To lead students to see the wondrous nature and character of God revealed through His interaction with mankind in biblical history and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
6. To equip students with practical steps to develop a biblical worldview and defend what they believe.
7. To help students understand how their beliefs impact their personal lives, others, and their future.

The Introductory New Testament course will include:

1. To introduce to students to the Gospel accounts of Jesus Christ, history of the early Christian Church, and the apostle Paul’s teachings in the New Testament.
2. To teach students that the Bible is a historical document and is true, trustworthy, and transformational.
3. To help students understand that, according to the Bible, God founded His Church through the apostles who proclaimed the teachings of Jesus Christ.
4. To enable students to know the basic historical facts of the New Testament during and after the earthly life of Jesus Christ.
5. To lead students to see the wondrous nature and character of God revealed through His interaction with mankind in biblical history and teachings.
6. To equip students with practical steps to develop a biblical worldview and defend what they believe.
7. To help students understand how their beliefs impact their personal lives, others, and their future.

The class time will run Monday-Friday during a class period set by Farragut High School and will be located at Faith Promise Church Farragut Campus – Anchor Learning Center.