Frederick County Public Schools
Step 4 of 10
Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

50

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Frederick, MD 21701 Frederick County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 6.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 51.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated April 17, 2026
Maryland 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 (69)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Carroll Manor ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 129
Emmitsburg ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 129
Ballenger Creek ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Ballenger Creek MiddleStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Brunswick ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Butterfly Ridge ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Catoctin HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Centerville ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Crestwood MiddleStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Frederick HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Glade ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Gov. Thomas Johnson HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Hillcrest ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Lewistown ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Linganore HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Middletown ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Middletown HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
New Market MiddleStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Orchard Grove ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Thurmont MiddleStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Thurmont PrimaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Tuscarora HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Valley ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Walkersville ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Walkersville HighStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Whittier ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 129
Blue Heron ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Brunswick HighStep 4 No Progress 129
Brunswick MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter No Progress
Deer Crossing ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Frederick Classical Charter No Progress
Frederick County Career & Technology CenterStep 4 No Progress 129
Frederick County Virtual No Progress
Gov. Thomas Johnson MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Green Valley ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Heather RidgeStep 4 No Progress 129
Kemptown ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Liberty ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Lincoln ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Middletown MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Middletown PrimaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Monocacy ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Monocacy MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Monocacy Valley Montessori No Progress
Myersville ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
New Market ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
New Midway-Woodsboro ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
North Frederick ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Oakdale ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Oakdale HighStep 4 No Progress 129
Oakdale MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Parkway ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Rock CreekStep 4 No Progress 129
Sabillasville Elementary No Progress
Spring Ridge ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Sugarloaf ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Thurmont ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Tuscarora ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Twin Ridge ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Urbana ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Urbana HighStep 4 No Progress 129
Urbana MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Walkersville MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Waverley ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
West Frederick MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Windsor Knolls MiddleStep 4 No Progress 129
Wolfsville ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
Yellow Springs ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 129
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
50
April 17, 2026
 
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