MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama public schools have until the start of the 2026-27 academic year to display the Ten Commandments in each classroom following the signing of SB99 by Governor Kay Ivey last month. The law requires each display to measure at least 11 inches by 14 inches and be printed in a large, easily readable font. A determination of what constitutes "easily readable" has not yet been issued by the state.

The Alabama State Department of Education is developing guidance for school districts on vendor selection, installation requirements, and acceptable translations. A spokesperson said the guidance is forthcoming.

"We are committed to implementing the law in a way that reflects its intent," said the spokesperson. The intent is the Ten Commandments. There are ten of them.

Districts have submitted questions to the department regarding whether Roman numeral or Arabic numeral formatting is required, whether all ten commandments must appear on a single display or may be distributed across multiple panels, and whether the display must be framed or may be laminated. The department has not yet responded to these questions, but the spokesperson confirmed the department is aware of them.

Several vendors have already begun taking orders. A laminated 11-by-14 display is available from multiple online suppliers at prices ranging from $4.99 to $24.95 depending on framing and finish. One supplier offers an option with a decorative stone-texture background. It is not required by the law.

The state has approximately 734 public schools. Each school has multiple classrooms. The total number of displays required has not been calculated by the department.

State law does not specify a commandment count verification process. There are ten commandments.