Sarasota
Step 9 of 10
Execute the Plan (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

22

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Florida is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Lifewise Enrollment
Location Map Sarasota, FL 34231 Sarasota County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 12.3% (data source)
Non-White Students 40.1% (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 (63)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Laurel Nokomis SchoolStep 9 Execute the Plan 22
Englewood Elementary SchoolStep 1 Form a Steering Committee 5
Alta Vista Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Ashton Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Atwater ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Booker High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Booker Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Cranberry Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Garden Elementary SchoolStep 9 Collect 50 Signatures 22
Glenallen Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Gulf Gate Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Heron Creek Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Imagine School At North Port Collect 50 Signatures
Island Village Montessori School Collect 50 Signatures
Lakeview Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Lamarque Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Mcintosh Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
North Port High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Pine View SchoolStep 9 Collect 50 Signatures 22
Riverview High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Sarasota High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Sarasota Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Sarasota Military Academy Collect 50 Signatures
Sarasota Suncoast Academy Collect 50 Signatures
Southside Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
State College Of Fla Collegiate School-Venice Collect 50 Signatures
Tatum Ridge Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Taylor Ranch Elementary SchoolStep 9 Collect 50 Signatures 22
THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT Collect 50 Signatures
Toledo Blade Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Venice Elementary SchoolStep 9 Collect 50 Signatures 22
Venice Middle SchoolStep 9 Collect 50 Signatures 22
Woodland Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Bay Haven School Of Basics PlusStep 1 No Progress 3
Brentwood Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
Brookside Middle SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
CHILDREN FIRST No Progress
COMMUNITY HAVEN FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES I No Progress
DREAMERS ACADEMY No Progress
Emma E. Booker Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
ESE SPECIAL PROGRAMS No Progress
Fruitville Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
Gocio Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
Imagine School At Palmer Ranch No Progress
OAK PARK SCHOOLStep 1 No Progress 3
Phillippi Shores Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
PINNACLE ACADEMY INC. No Progress
Sarasota Academy Of The Arts No Progress
SARASOTA COUNTY ACCELERATION ACADEMIES No Progress
Sarasota School Of Arts-Sciences No Progress
Sarasota Virtual Academy (Virtual Franchise) No Progress
Sarasota Virtual Instruction (Course Offerings) No Progress
Sarasota Virtual Instruction Program No Progress
Sky Academy Englewood No Progress
Sky Academy Venice No Progress
Student Leadership Academy No Progress
Suncoast Polytechnical High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
Suncoast School For Innovative Studies No Progress
SUNCOAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE No Progress
TRIADStep 1 No Progress 3
Tuttle Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
Venice Senior High SchoolStep 9 No Progress 22
Wilkinson Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 3
53 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 9
Execute the Plan
22
February 15, 2026
Step 9
Execute the Plan
4
February 12, 2026
Step 9
Execute the Plan
22
January 24, 2026
Step 9
Execute the Plan
21
January 21, 2026
Step 9
Execute the Plan
181
January 19, 2026
Step 9
Execute the Plan
180
December 12, 2025
Step 8
Train Your Team
180
October 21, 2025
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
180
April 10, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
178
March 21, 2025
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
178
January 6, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
174
January 4, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
174
December 31, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
173
November 19, 2024
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
172
November 13, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
172
October 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
September 9, 2024
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
171
September 9, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
170
August 23, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
169
August 13, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
166
July 31, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
165
July 9, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
164
June 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
June 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
3
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
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
2
May 22, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
 
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