Newark Public School District
Step 1 of 10
Collect 50 Signatures (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

10

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

New Jersey is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Newark, NJ 07102 Essex County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 30.0% (data source)
Non-White Students 93.7% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated October 17, 2026
New Jersey 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.

Share With Others Click to Copy Click to share
Schools in the District (66)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Abington Avenue SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 10
East Side High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 10
American History High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Ann Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Arts High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Avon Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Bard Early College High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Barringer High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Belmont Runyon Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Benjamin Franklin Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Bruce Street School For The DeafStep 1 No Progress 10
Camden Street Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Central High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Chancellor Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Cleveland Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Dr William H. Horton Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Dr. E. Alma Flagg SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Eagle Academy For Young Men Of NewarkStep 1 No Progress 10
Early Childhood School - Central No Progress
Early Childhood School - North No Progress
Early Childhood School - South No Progress
Early Childhood School - West No Progress
East Ward Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Elliott Street Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
First Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Fourteenth Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
George Washington Carver Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Harriet Tubman Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Hawkins Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Hawthorne Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Ivy Hill Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
John F. Kennedy SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Lafayette Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Lincoln Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Louise A. Spencer Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Luis Mu?Oz Marin Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Malcolm X Shabazz High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Mckinley Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Michelle Obama Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Mt Vernon Place SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Newark Evening Educational CenterStep 1 No Progress 10
Newark Sch of Data Science and Information TechnologyStep 1 No Progress 10
Newark School of Fashion & DesignStep 1 No Progress 10
Newark School of Global StudiesStep 1 No Progress 10
Newark Vocational High School No Progress
NJ Regional Day School - NewarkStep 1 No Progress 10
Oliver Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Park Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Peshine Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Quitman Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Rafael Hernandez SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Ridge Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Roberto Clemente Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Salome Ure?A Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Science Park High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Sir Isaac Newton Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
South Seventeenth Street SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
South Street Elementary SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Speedway Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Sussex Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Technology High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Thirteenth Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
University High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Weequahic High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
West Side High SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
Wilson Avenue SchoolStep 1 No Progress 10
56 schools not shown
Show/Hide All Schools
Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
10
September 25, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
9
September 2, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
8
August 8, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
3
January 10, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
November 30, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
March 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
March 28, 2025
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 23, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
May 22, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise.

 



Respect Public Schools
Contact Info
keithc@respectpublicschools.com
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2026
Paid for by Keith Comer