Utica Community Schools
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State Law

Michigan is a
"May" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48312 Macomb County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 9.5% (data source)
Non-White Students 21.5% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 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 (37)
School Grades Period
Adlai Stevenson High School
Beacon Tree Elementary School
Beck Centennial Elem School
Bemis Junior High School
Browning Elementary School
Bruce Collins Elementary School
Crissman Elementary School
Davis Junior High School
Dekeyser Elementary School
Dresden Elementary School
Eisenhower High School
Eppler Junior High School
Flickinger Elementary School
Floyd Ebeling Elementary School
Frank Jeannette Jr High School
Graebner Elementary School
Havel Elementary School
Henry Ford Ii High School
Heritage Junior High School
Issac Monfort Elementary School
Jack Harvey Elementary School
Joan C Sergent Instructional Resource Center
Malow Junior High School
Messmore Elementary School
Morgan Elementary School
Oakbrook Elementary School
Plumbrook Elementary School
Richard J Duncan Elementary
Roberts Elementary School
Schuchard Elementary School
Schwarzkoff Elementary School
Shelby Junior High School
Switzer Elementary School
UCS Alternative Learning Center
Utica High School
West Utica Elementary School
Wiley Elementary School
27 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
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Date
Step 4
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78
January 6, 2026
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December 15, 2025
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June 15, 2025
Step 1
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April 26, 2024
Step 0
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March 17, 2024
 
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