Billings Elem
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State Law

Montana is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Billings, MT 59101 Yellowstone County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 11.2% (data source)
Non-White Students 29.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
Montana State Law

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

Full Law Text Link to State Law

20-1-308. Religious instruction released time program -- academic credit.

(1) The trustees of a school district shall provide for a religious instruction released time program under which a pupil must be released from regular school attendance for the purpose of receiving religious instruction upon written request, renewed at least annually, of the pupil's parent or guardian. The trustees shall determine the amount of time, not less than 1 hour a week, for which a pupil may be released for religious instruction.

(2) A religious instruction released time program may not be established or administered in such a way that public school property is utilized for the purpose of religious instruction.

(3) Public money may not be used, directly or indirectly, for the religious instruction.

(4) Any period for which a pupil is released under a religious instruction released time program is part of the school day and week for purposes of 20-1-301, 20-1-302, 20-5-103, 20-9-311, and all other provisions of Title 20, and the release may not adversely affect the pupil's enrollment status or attendance record or the calculation of the school district's ANB or other funding.

(5) The trustees of a school district may adopt a policy that awards academic credit for the completion of a religious instruction released time course and recognizes the credits of an independently accredited provider of released time courses.

(6) If a school district awards academic credit for a religious instruction released time course, the school district shall evaluate the course based on secular criteria that are substantially the same criteria used to evaluate similar courses to determine how much credit to award. The decision to award credit for a released time course must be neutral to, and may not involve any test for, religious content or denominational affiliation.

(7) For the purposes of this section, secular criteria may include but are not limited to the following:
(a) the number of hours of classroom instruction time;
(b) a review of the course syllabus that reflects course requirements and materials used;
(c) the methods of assessment used in the course; and
(d) the qualifications of the course instructor.

Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.

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 (12)
School Grades Period
Alkali Creek School
Beartooth School
Ben Steele Middle School
Bench School
Big Sky Elementary
Castle Rock Middle School
Eagle Cliffs Elementary
Lewis & Clark Middle School
Medicine Crow Middle School
Orchard School
Riverside Middle School
Will James Middle School
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
143
November 24, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
142
November 19, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
141
November 5, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
124
August 2, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
51
July 30, 2025
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
51
July 30, 2025
Step 2
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50
July 28, 2025
Step 1
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49
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47
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46
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41
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26
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23
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21
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19
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10
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9
June 20, 2024
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6
April 24, 2024
Step 0
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March 17, 2024
 
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