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

30

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Nebraska is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map OMAHA, NE 68131 Douglas County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 15.4% (data source)
Non-White Students 78.1% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated April 13, 2026
Nebraska 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.

Notes

LB550 is sponsored by Lifewise. The bill will require schools work with RTRI programs. The bill also allows Lifewise to use the school buildings, public funds, and resources. This is a direct contradiction to Zorach v. Clauson (1952).

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 (110)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Adams Elem SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 31
Alfonza W Davis Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Alice Buffett Magnet MsStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Ashland Park-Robbins Elem SchStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Bancroft ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Belle Ryan Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Bryan High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Bryan Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Chandler View Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Dundee Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Fontenelle Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAM AT SKINNERStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Joslyn Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
King Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
King Science-Tech Magnet M SStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Lewis & Clark Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Liberty Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Miller Park Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Mount View Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Oak Valley Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Omaha North Magnet High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Omaha Northwest High Magnet SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Omaha Public Schools HomebasedStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Omaha South Magnet High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
OPS VIRTUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Collect 50 Signatures
R M Marrs Magnet Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Skinner Magnet CenterStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Spring Lake Magnet CenterStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
Sunny Slope Elem SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 31
ACCELEREStep 4 No Progress 31
Belvedere Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Benson Magnet High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Benson West Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Beveridge Magnet Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
BLACKBURN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMStep 4 No Progress 31
Boyd Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Burke High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
CAREER CENTERStep 4 No Progress 31
Castelar Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Catlin Magnet CenterStep 4 No Progress 31
Central High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Central Park Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Columbian Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Conestoga Magnet Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Crestridge Magnet CenterStep 4 No Progress 31
Dodge Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Druid Hill Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Early Childhood Center At Educare - Indian Hill No Progress
Early Childhood Center At Educare - Kellom No Progress
Early Childhood Center At Gateway No Progress
Early Learning Center (0-3) At GatewayStep 4 No Progress 31
EARLY LEARNING CENTER (0-3) AT KENNEDYStep 4 No Progress 31
Early Learning Center (0-3) At SkinnerStep 4 No Progress 31
EARLY LEARNING CENTER (PK) AT KENNEDY No Progress
Edison Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
ESL TEEN LITERACY PROGRAMStep 4 No Progress 31
Field Club Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Florence Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Franklin Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Fullerton Magnet CenterStep 4 No Progress 31
Gateway ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 31
GATEWAY TO COLLEGEStep 4 No Progress 31
Gifford Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Gilder Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Gomez Heritage Elementary SchStep 4 No Progress 31
Harrison Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Hartman Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Highland Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAM No Progress
Indian Hill Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAM AT SARATOGAStep 4 No Progress 31
J P LORD PROGRAMStep 4 No Progress 31
Jackson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Jefferson Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Kellom Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Kennedy Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Lothrop Magnet CenterStep 4 No Progress 31
Masters Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Mc Millan Magnet Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Minne Lusa Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Monroe Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Morton Magnet Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Nathan Hale Magnet Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Norris Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
OPS VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL No Progress
OPS VIRTUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL No Progress
PARRISH PROGRAMStep 4 No Progress 31
Pawnee Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Picotte Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Pinewood Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Ponca Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Prairie Wind Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
REMOTE LEARNING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLStep 4 No Progress 31
REMOTE LEARNING HIGH SCHOOLStep 4 No Progress 31
REMOTE LEARNING MIDDLE SCHOOLStep 4 No Progress 31
Rose Hill Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Saddlebrook Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
SECONDARY SUCCESS PROGRAMStep 4 No Progress 31
Sherman Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Springville Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Standing Bear Elementary SchStep 4 No Progress 31
TRANSITION PROGRAM AT UNMC NEBRASKA MEDICINEStep 4 No Progress 31
TRANSITION PROGRAM NORTHStep 4 No Progress 31
TRANSITION PROGRAM SOUTHStep 4 No Progress 31
UNO/OPS MIDDLE COLLEGE PROGRAMStep 4 No Progress 31
Wakonda Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Walnut Hill Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Washington Elem SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
Western Hills Magnet CenterStep 4 No Progress 31
Wilson Focus SchoolStep 4 No Progress 31
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
30
March 3, 2026
 
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise.

 



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