Students in South Carolina can take a religion class off campus and earn high school credit, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a program in Spartanburg, S.C., that allows their students to earn elective hours through an off-campus religious course.

The district adopted the program in 2007 after South Carolina lawmakers passed the "released time credit act."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation then sued in 2009 on behalf of two families.

South Carolina is the only state with a law allowing the off-campus religious credit.