With a 28-22 vote, the Indiana state Senate passed a bill this week that would allow public school science classes to teach religion-based views on the origin of life from a variety of religions, including Scientology, along with evolution.
The bill must still be approved by the House and signed by Governor Mitch Daniels for it to become law.
The Indiana Department of Education said the state would not develop a curriculum or guidelines for teaching creationism in science classes if the bill becomes law.
In the 1987 case of Edwards vs. Aguillard, the US Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring creationism to be taught along with evolution in science classes was unconstitutional because it was designed to advance a particular religion.
Senator Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn), the bill's sponsor, said he is aware of the legal precedent but believes the Supreme Court could rule differently today.
According to Fordham Foundation, a think tank advocating for high academic standards, Indiana (.pdf) is one of only 7 states that earned an "A" for its science standards. The report added that challenges to evolution are among the biggest problems facing science standards today.
