Muscogee County
Step 4 of 10
Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

90

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Georgia is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Columbus, GA 31901 Muscogee County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 25.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 81.2% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 2026
Georgia State Law

There is no state statute regulating released time for religious instruction, federal rulings still apply. "No-Statute" states function in theory the same way as "May-Law" states. 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

States with no statute for released time religious instruction are treated like "may" states. Released time programs would need to request approval from the local school board. School districts should not allow a released time program to operate in the district without a specific released time policy.

The federal case laws that mandate how released time functions should be followed. Zorach vs Clauson states:

School districts in states without a statute mandating a released time policy can choose not to allow released time or to coordinate with religious organizations seeking to remove students from school during the school day.

School districts should always have a policy indicating whether they coordinate with released-time religious instruction programs. Not having a policy at all and leaving it up to the released time program should never be the operating standard. This will open the district up to misinterpretation of its intent.

It is suggested that parents approach the school board and request that a released time religious instruction policy be implemented, even before a religious program approaches the district.

This does not encompass all legal requirements, and other legal opinions may exist. Please use this as a guide only.

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 (53)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Aaron Cohn Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Allen Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Baker Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Blackmon Road Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Blanchard Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Clubview Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 10
Columbus High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Double Churches Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Eagle Ridge AcademyStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Fox Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 14
Hardaway High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Jordan Vocational High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Kendrick High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Lonnie Jackson AcademyStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Northside High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Rainey Mccullers School Of The ArtsStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Reese Road Leadership AcademyStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Richards Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 4
Rigdon Road Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Shaw High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Spencer High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Veterans Memorial Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Arnold Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Brewer Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Carver High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Davis Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Dawson Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Dimon ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Dorothy Height Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Double Churches Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Downtown Elementary Magnet AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
East Columbus Magnet AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Eddy Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Forrest Road Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Fort Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Gentian Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Georgetown Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Hannan ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Johnson Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Key Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Martin Luther King- Jr. Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Mathews Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Midland AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Midland Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
North Columbus ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
River Road Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Rothschild Leadership Academy SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
South Columbus Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
St. Marys Video And Communication TechnologyStep 0 No Progress 0
Waddell Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Wesley Heights Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Wynnton Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
43 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
90
November 20, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
89
September 22, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
84
September 17, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
83
September 16, 2025
Step 4
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80
September 8, 2025
Step 4
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79
August 26, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
78
August 22, 2025
Step 4
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77
August 20, 2025
Step 4
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74
July 6, 2025
Step 4
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73
June 23, 2025
Step 4
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72
June 5, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
68
May 20, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
66
April 22, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
66
January 6, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
63
January 4, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
62
December 31, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
60
November 30, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
59
October 29, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
58
September 9, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
57
August 24, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
55
August 14, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
54
July 26, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
53
July 1, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
52
June 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
June 16, 2024
 
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