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

22

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Ellicott City, MD 21042 Howard County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 5.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 69.7% (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 (71)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Clarksville MiddleStep 1 Form a Steering Committee 49
Burleigh Manor Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Clarksville ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Ducketts LaneStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Guilford ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Hammond HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Howard HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Longfellow ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Pointers Run ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Reservoir HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Rockburn ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
West Friendship ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Wilde Lake MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 49
Atholton ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Atholton HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Bellows Spring ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Bonnie Branch MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Bryant Woods ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Bushy Park ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Cedar Lane Special CenterStep 1 No Progress 49
Centennial HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Centennial Lane ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Clemens Crossing ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Cradlerock ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Dayton OaksStep 1 No Progress 49
Deep Run ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Dunloggin MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Elkridge ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Elkridge Landing MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Ellicott Mills MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Folly Quarter MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Forest Ridge ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Fulton ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Glenelg HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Glenwood MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Gorman Crossing ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Hammond ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Hanover HillsStep 1 No Progress 49
Hollifield Station ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Homewood SchoolStep 1 No Progress 49
Ilchester ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Jeffers Hill ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Lake Elkhorn MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Laurel Woods ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Lime Kiln MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Lisbon ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Long Reach HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Manor Woods Elementary No Progress
Marriotts Ridge HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Mayfield Woods MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Mount Hebron HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Mount View MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Murray Hill MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Oakland Mills HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Oakland Mills MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Patapsco MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
Patuxent Valley MiddleStep 1 No Progress 49
River Hill HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Running Brook ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
St. Johns Lane ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Stevens Forest ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Swansfield ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Talbott Springs ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Thomas ViaductStep 1 No Progress 49
Thunder Hill ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Triadelphia Ridge ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Veterans ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Waterloo ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Waverly ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
Wilde Lake HighStep 1 No Progress 49
Worthington ElementaryStep 1 No Progress 49
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
22
April 17, 2026
 
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