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- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Alabama Public Schools to Display Ten Commandments Poster Starting in 2027
Alabama education officials have approved a new poster that will feature the Ten Commandments, alongside important excerpts from the nation's founding documents, for display in public schools. The decision, finalized late last week by State Superintendent Eric Mackey, means that starting January 1, 2027, public schools across the state will be required to display the poster in certain areas, provided donated materials or funds are available.
Details of the Approved Poster and Its Contents
The official display, titled “Historical Truths: The Ten Commandments and America’s Founding Documents,” includes the Ten Commandments, excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Mayflower Compact, and the Northwest Ordinance. It also references a letter by John Quincy Adams. The design features the phrase “One Nation under God,” an American flag, and a bald eagle. A notable inclusion is a statement recognizing that students and their families can make their own choices regarding matters of faith, addressing student rights.
Requirements and Implementation Timeline
This new requirement comes from Senate Bill 99, sponsored by Senator Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) and signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in April. The law mandates that the poster be displayed in at least one entryway or other common area, such as a cafeteria or library, and in all school classrooms where U.S. history is routinely taught to fifth through twelfth graders. Schools serving only kindergarten through fourth grade are exempt from the common-area requirement. The posters must be at least 11 by 14 inches in size. The Alabama State Department of Education has stated that printed copies will be made available to schools at no charge, although specifics on distribution have not yet been announced.
Funding and Local School Board Responsibilities
Importantly, local school boards are not required to use public funding to purchase these displays. The law specifies that implementation depends on the availability of donated posters or money, and instructs the state education department to help schools identify resources to comply with the new rule. With the design now approved, Alabama's public schools have until January 1, 2027, to begin the process, pending availability of resources.
Support and Opposition to Religious Displays
The legislation and the approved ten commandments poster have not been without controversy. The American Historical Association opposed the bill, warning that it could misrepresent the Ten Commandments' influence on America’s founding. Similarly, the ACLU of Alabama voiced concerns that government-mandated religious displays could infringe upon the religious freedom of students of varied or no faith traditions, highlighting possible impacts on student rights.
Legal Challenges and Broader Context
Alabama joins a group of states with similar laws regarding religious displays in public schools. In other states, such measures have led to legal challenges. For example, an Arkansas law was permanently blocked by a federal judge in March 2026, while a federal appeals court upheld a comparable law in Texas the following month. Ongoing cases in Louisiana and Texas could influence the national legal standing of such requirements, potentially affecting Alabama’s newly enacted law.
Source: alreporter.com.
