Manatee
Step 8 of 10
Train Your Team (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

34

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Florida is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map BRADENTON, FL 34205 Manatee County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 12.4% (data source)
Non-White Students 56.7% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated April 16, 2026
Florida State Law

Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

(b) Each district school board, in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education, shall adopt policies authorizing a parent to request and be granted permission for absence of a student from school for:
1. Religious instruction or religious holidays.

Notes

(b) Each district school board, in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education, shall adopt policies authorizing a parent to request and be granted permission for absence of a student from school for: 1. Religious instruction or religious holidays.

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 (70)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Gene Witt Elementary SchoolStep 8 Train Your Team 34
Anna Maria Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
B.d. Gullett Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Ballard Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Barbara A Harvey Elementary SchoolStep 8 Collect 50 Signatures 34
Bayshore Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Bayshore High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Braden River Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Buffalo Creek Middle SchoolStep 8 Collect 50 Signatures 34
G D Rogers Garden- Bullock ElementaryStep 0 Collect 50 Signatures 0
Imagine Charter School At North Manatee Collect 50 Signatures
Jessie P. Miller Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Manatee Charter School Collect 50 Signatures
Manatee Elementary SchoolStep 0 Collect 50 Signatures 0
Manatee High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Marjorie G. Kinnan Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Myakka City Elementary SchoolStep 8 Collect 50 Signatures 34
Palma Sola Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Palmetto Charter School Collect 50 Signatures
Parrish Charter Academy Collect 50 Signatures
Parrish Community High SchoolStep 8 Collect 50 Signatures 34
William H. Bashaw ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
AMIKIDS MANATEE No Progress
Blackburn Elementary SchoolStep 8 No Progress 34
Braden River High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Braden River Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Carlos E. Haile Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Dr Mona Jain Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
EASTER SEALS No Progress
Electa Lee Magnet Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Florine J Abel Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Gilbert W Mcneal Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
H. S. Moody Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 2
HORIZONS ACADEMYStep 1 No Progress 1
HOSPITAL HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION No Progress
Ida M. Stewart Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 2
Imagine Charter At Lakewood Ranch No Progress
James Tillman Elementary Magnet SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
JUST FOR GIRLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLStep 1 No Progress 2
JUST FOR GIRLS MIDDLE SCHOOLStep 1 No Progress 2
JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER No Progress
Lakewood Ranch High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Lincoln Memorial Academy No Progress
LINCOLN MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOLStep 0 No Progress 0
Louise R Johnson K-8 School Of International StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Manatee Community Action Agency-Head Start No Progress
MANATEE TECHNICAL COLLEGE No Progress
Manatee Virtual Instruction Program No Progress
Manatee Virtual School ( Virtual Franchise) No Progress
Martha B. King Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 2
Oasis Middle School No Progress
Oneco Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
PACE CENTER FOR GIRLSStep 1 No Progress 1
Palm View K-8 SchoolStep 1 No Progress 2
Palmetto High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
PALMSHORES BEHAVIOR HEALTH CENTER No Progress
R. Dan Nolan Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Robert Willis Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Rowlett Middle Academy No Progress
SCHOOL OF ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL LEARNING EXCELLENCE (SABLE No Progress
Sea Breeze Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 2
Southeast High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
State College Of Florida Collegiate School No Progress
Tara Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 1
Team Success A School Of Excellence No Progress
THE PORT ACADEMYStep 1 No Progress 1
Virgil Mills Elementary SchoolStep 8 No Progress 34
Visible Men Academy No Progress
W. D. Sugg Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 2
William Monroe Rowlett Academy For Arts And Communication No Progress
60 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 8
Train Your Team
34
January 23, 2026
Step 8
Train Your Team
27
January 21, 2026
Step 8
Train Your Team
93
January 15, 2026
Step 8
Train Your Team
92
December 23, 2025
Step 8
Train Your Team
91
December 1, 2025
Step 8
Train Your Team
88
November 13, 2025
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
88
April 22, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
86
January 18, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
78
January 6, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
78
January 4, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
76
November 30, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
63
November 19, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
59
November 12, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
35
August 30, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
34
August 13, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
28
August 1, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
27
July 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
25
July 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
24
July 1, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
22
June 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
June 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
3
May 22, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
May 22, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
May 22, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
 
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