Muscogee County
Step 5 of 10
Draft a Plan (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

40

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 April 16, 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
Arnold Middle SchoolStep 4 Draft a Plan 94
Aaron Cohn Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Allen Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Baker Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Blackmon Road Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Blanchard Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Clubview Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Columbus High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Double Churches Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Eagle Ridge AcademyStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Fox Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Hardaway High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Jordan Vocational High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 21
Kendrick High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Lonnie Jackson AcademyStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Northside High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Rainey Mccullers School Of The ArtsStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Reese Road Leadership AcademyStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Richards Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Rigdon Road Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Shaw High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Spencer High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Veterans Memorial Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 94
Brewer Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet AcademyStep 4 No Progress 94
Carver High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Davis Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Dawson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Dimon ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 94
Dorothy Height Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Double Churches Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Downtown Elementary Magnet AcademyStep 4 No Progress 94
East Columbus Magnet AcademyStep 4 No Progress 94
Eddy Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Forrest Road Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Fort Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Gentian Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Georgetown Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Hannan ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 94
Johnson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Key Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Martin Luther King- Jr. Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Mathews Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Midland AcademyStep 4 No Progress 94
Midland Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
North Columbus ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 94
River Road Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Rothschild Leadership Academy SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
South Columbus Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
St. Marys Video And Communication TechnologyStep 4 No Progress 94
Waddell Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Wesley Heights Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
Wynnton Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 94
43 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
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Signatures
Date
Step 5
Draft a Plan
40
April 16, 2026
 
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