94
People who signed Lifewise's petition
North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state
| Location Map | Durham, NC 27701 Durham County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 15.1% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 80.4% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | March 5, 2026 |
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:
- The public schools should be neutral. “School authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request.”
- No announcements in the school with regard to the released time program.
- Released time classes are held off of school property
- No public funds or employees are used to facilitate the released time program.
- Parents give their signed consent form to the administration.
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.
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.
Share With Others Click to share| School | Step | Description | Grades | Period | Signatures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Brogden Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Burton Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| C C Spaulding Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| C E Jordan High | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| City Of Medicine Academy | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Club Boulevard Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Creekside Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Durham School Of The Arts | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Durham's Performance Learning Center | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| E K Powe Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Easley Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Eastway Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Eno Valley Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Fayetteville Street Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Forest View Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| George L Carrington Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| George Watts Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Glenn Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Hillandale Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Hillside High | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Hillside New Tech High | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Holt Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Holton Career and Resource Center | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Hope Valley Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| J D Clement Early College Hs | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| James E Shepard Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Lakeview School | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Lakewood Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Lakewood Montessori Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Little River K-8 School | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Lowe's Grove Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Lucas Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Mangum Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Merrick-Moore Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Middle College Hs @ Dtcc | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Morehead Montessori | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Neal Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Northern High | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Oak Grove Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Parkwood Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Pearsontown Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| R N Harris Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Riverside High | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Rogers-Herr Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Sandy Ridge Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Sherwood Githens Middle | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Southern School Of Energy And Sustainabi | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Southwest Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Spring Valley Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| The School For Creative Studies | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| W G Pearson Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Y E Smith Elementary | Step 6 | Obtain School Approval | 94 | ||
| Dps Hospital School | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Ignite Online Academy | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
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