Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have
the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws
(b) Each district school board, in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education, shall adopt policies authorizing a parent to request and be granted permission for absence of a student from school for:
1. Religious instruction or religious holidays.
(b) Each district school board, in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education, shall adopt policies authorizing a parent to request and be granted permission for absence of a student from school for:
1. Religious instruction or religious holidays.
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.
Lifewise Academy, a fundamentalist Christian ministry, is planning to remove students from our local schools. Lifewise has made public schools its mission field and aims to convert every student to its version of Christianity. Background checks for Lifewise employees and volunteers are not conducted to the same standard as public schools. Lifewise does not allow parents, churches, and the general public to fully review its curriculum. Lifewise Academy does not improve attendance, behavior, or school performance, contrary to statements by Lifewise. Please read more at https://respectpublicschools.com/ Read and learn about Lifewise Academy, inform your school board and administration, and get involved.
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
117
September 5, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
117
September 5, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
117
August 29, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
117
August 29, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
117
August 22, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
117
August 22, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
117
August 14, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
117
August 14, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
117
August 8, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
117
August 8, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
117
February 13, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
121
February 10, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
120
January 21, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
226
January 16, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
225
January 13, 2026
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
214
December 27, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
213
December 21, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
212
November 28, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
212
November 27, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
212
November 26, 2025
Step 10
212
November 23, 2025
Step 10
211
November 17, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
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November 17, 2025
Step 10
211
November 11, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
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November 9, 2025
Step 10
211
November 1, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
211
October 30, 2025
Step 10
210
October 28, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
210
October 28, 2025
Step 10
210
October 24, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
209
October 22, 2025
Step 10
209
October 16, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
208
October 15, 2025
Step 10
208
October 1, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
207
April 10, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
174
March 29, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
173
March 20, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
173
February 2, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
147
January 18, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
141
January 4, 2025
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
141
January 4, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
141
November 19, 2024
Step 8
Train Your Team
121
October 22, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
121
October 9, 2024
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
121
October 6, 2024
Step 10
District approved, check individual school.
119
September 9, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
119
August 30, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
118
August 13, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
117
July 31, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
92
July 26, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
91
July 22, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
91
July 16, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
90
July 10, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
86
June 30, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
85
June 20, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
80
June 15, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
80
June 6, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
80
May 17, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
79
May 5, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
78
May 1, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
74
April 26, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
10
March 25, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024