Alabama public schools to display Ten Commandments posters

Alabama public schools will begin displaying posters featuring the Ten Commandments and excerpts from the nation's founding documents starting January 1, 2027. State Superintendent Eric Mackey approved the official design, titled ‘Historical Truths: The Ten Commandments and America's Founding Documents’, noting that printed copies will be provided to schools at no cost.

The requirement follows Senate Bill 99, which was passed by the Alabama Legislature and signed by Governor Kay Ivey in April 2026. The posters must be displayed in common areas, such as cafeterias, libraries, or entrances, as well as in every fifth- through 12th-grade classroom where United States history is taught. Schools serving only kindergarten through fourth grade are exempt from this mandate.

The approved design includes the Ten Commandments alongside references to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Mayflower Compact, and the Northwest Ordinance, as well as a quotation from former President John Quincy Adams. To comply with the law, the displays must include language stating that decisions regarding faith remain with students and their families and explaining that the poster is intended to recognize the historical role of the Ten Commandments in American history.