This is an example school board policy from NEOLA, a school district service provider located in Ohio. All language is copyright of NEOLA. This is to be used as a guide of what a school policy can look like.

Districts should be conscious of the entanglement that is created as more policies are added. Lifewise has already threatened legal action on districts that have polices they feel go too far and limit the religious freedom of Lifewise, parents, and students. These threats should be taken with a grain of salt since they are just threats and no legal action has been taken.

I have made comments in italics on some sections. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

SAMPLE RELEASED TIME FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

The Board of Education desires to cooperate with those parents who wish to provide for religious instruction for their children but also recognizes its responsibility to enforce the attendance requirements of the State.

Students shall be provided "released time" during the school day to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off District property, provided that the following requirements are met, such students will not be considered absent when the:

1. student's parent or guardian gives consent in writing;
2. sponsoring entity maintains attendance records and makes them available to the District;
3. sponsoring entity provides and assumes liability for the student; and
4. student assumes responsibility for any missed school work.

Transportation of students to and from released time instruction is the complete responsibility of the sponsoring entity, the parent, guardian, and/or student. The Board, its members, and employees are immune from liability for any injuries arising from transportation to and from released time instruction. Further, no Board funds will be expended for, and no District personnel shall be involved in, the provision of religious instruction.

The District shall collaborate with a sponsoring entity to identify a time for religious instruction to be offered during the school day.

Students shall not be excused from a core curriculum subject course to attend released time instruction. The Board deems all graded courses to be core curriculum including, but not limited to, courses that have State-approved learning standards.

High school students may earn up to two (2) units of high school credit for coursework completed during released time instruction.

The Board will evaluate the course based on secular criteria including, but not limited to:

A. the number of hours of instructional time;

B. a review of the course syllabus that reflects course requirements and materials used;

C. the assessment methods used in the course; and

D. the instructor's qualifications, which shall be similar to the qualification of other teachers in the District.

The decision as to whether to provide credit for a specific released time religious instruction course will be neutral as to religious content and will not involve any test for religious content or denominational affiliation.

Released time instruction will be limited to ____ [ENTER NUMBER] day(s) per school _____ [QUARTER, SEMESTER, YEAR, ETC.], as established by the Superintendent, and shall not exceed ________ [ENTER AMOUNT] minutes, inclusive of travel.

Background Check Sample 1

Private entities proposing to provide religious instruction during released time as set forth herein shall be required to provide the District with criminal records checks for any and all of their instructors and volunteers providing a released time course in religious instruction. Criminal records checks will be at no cost to the Board and any private entity proposing to provide religious instruction during the released time must provide updated documentation of such checks if/when their staffing changes. The District will not release students to the private entity for religious instruction release time if any criminal background check indicates conviction of an offense which would preclude an individual from employment in an Ohio public school district and/or should the Board determine that the private entity did not complete a satisfactory criminal background check on any subsequent/new instructor or volunteer. Criminal background check documentation must be provided to the Board upon request.

Background Check Sample 2

It is the responsibility of any private entity providing religious instruction during release time from the school day to annually submit to the Board an acknowledgment that it has completed criminal background checks on all instructors and volunteers engaged in a course in religious instruction and certifying that no such individual has a criminal conviction which would otherwise prevent them from being employed with an Ohio public school district. In addition, the acknowledgment will include an affirmation by the private entity of its ongoing obligation to complete and maintain such checks on all such instructors and volunteers if/when staffing changes. The District will not release students to a private entity for religious instruction release time if the entity fails to provide the acknowledgment and/or to satisfactorily complete follow up criminal background checks as needed. Criminal background check documentation must be provided to the Board upon request.

Any private entity providing religious instruction during the school day must agree that it will not provide participating students with any materials, snacks, clothing, candies, trinkets, or other items for their return to school. The District will not release students for religious instruction release time to any private provider that fails to adhere to this prohibition.

Staff members shall not promote or discourage participation in release time programs for any religious instructional program.

Nothing herein shall constitute an endorsement of religion or infringe upon an individual's First Amendment rights.

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