Shelby Public Schools
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Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

54

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Michigan is a
"May" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map SHELBY, MI 49455 Oceana County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 18.5% (data source)
Non-White Students 47.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
Michigan State Law

School districts may create a policy allowing students to be released for religious study, or they may choose not to coordinate with released-time programs and require the students' legal guardians facilitate the process.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

380.1561 Compulsory attendance at public school; enrollment dates; exceptions.
Sec. 1561.

(3) A child is not required to attend a public school in any of the following cases:
(d) The child is regularly enrolled in a public school while in attendance at religious instruction classes for not more than 2 class hours per week, off public school property during public school hours, upon written request of the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis.

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (4)
School Grades Period
New Era Elementary School
Shelby High School
Shelby Middle School
Thomas Read Elementary School
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
54
January 13, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
52
December 12, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
50
December 4, 2025
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
49
December 1, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
49
December 1, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
46
November 27, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
44
November 26, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
41
November 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
39
November 20, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
24
November 17, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
22
November 16, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
21
November 15, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
11
November 8, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
10
October 31, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
9
October 30, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
7
October 27, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
6
October 25, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
4
October 22, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
March 20, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
March 4, 2025
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
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