Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Step 6 of 10
Obtain School Approval (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

563

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Charlotte, NC 28208 Mecklenburg County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 13.8% (data source)
Non-White Students 76.4% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated March 6, 2026
North Carolina 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.

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Schools in the District (178)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Albemarle Road ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Albemarle Road MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Alexander Graham MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Allenbrook ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Ardrey Kell High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Ashley Park Prek-8 SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Bailey MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Bain ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Ballantyne ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Barnette ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Barringer Academic CenterStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Berewick ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Berryhill SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Beverly Woods ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Billingsville ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Blythe ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Briarwood AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Bruns Avenue ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Butler High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Carmel MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Cato Middle College High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Chantilly MontessoriStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Char Eng Early College-UnccStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Charlotte East Language AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Charlotte Teacher Early CollegeStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Charlotte-Mecklenburg AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Clear Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Cochrane Collegiate AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Collinswood Language AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Community House MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Cornelius ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Cotswold ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Coulwood Stem AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Crestdale MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Croft Community SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Crown Point ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
David Cox Road ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Davidson K-8 SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Devonshire ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Dilworth Elem Sedgefield CampusStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Dilworth Elementary School: Latta CampusStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Druid Hills AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
E. E. Waddell Language AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
East Mecklenburg High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Eastway MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Elizabeth Lane ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Elizabeth Traditional ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Elon Park ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Endhaven ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
First Ward Creative Arts AcadStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Francis Bradley MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Garinger High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Gov's Village Stem (Lower)Step 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Gov's Village Stem (Upper)Step 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Grand Oak ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Greenway Park ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Harding University High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Harper Middle College HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Hawk Ridge ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Hawthorne Academy Of Health SciencesStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Hickory Grove ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Hidden Valley ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Highland Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Highland Mill MontessoriStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Highland Renaissance AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Hopewell High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Hornets Nest ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Huntersville ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Huntingtowne Farms ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Idlewild ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Independence High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Irwin Academic CenterStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
J. H. Gunn ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
J. M. Alexander MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
J.v. Washam ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
James Martin MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Jay M. Robinson MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Joseph W Grier AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Kennedy MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Lake Wylie ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Lansdowne ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Lawrence Orr ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Lebanon Road ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Levine Middle College High SchStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Long Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mallard Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mallard Creek High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Marie G Davis SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Martin Luther King Jr MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Matthews ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mcalpine ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mcclintock MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mckee Road ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Merancas Middle College-CpccStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Merry Oaks International AcadStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Metro SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Military And Global LeadershipStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mint Hill MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Montclaire ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Mountain Island Lake AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Myers Park High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Myers Park Traditional ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Nations Ford ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
New Southeast Elementary Relief SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Newell ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
North Academy of World LanguagesStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
North Mecklenburg High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Northeast MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Northwest School Of The ArtsStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Oakdale ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Oakhurst Steam AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Oaklawn Language AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Olympic High Relief SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Olympic High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Palisades Park ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Park Road MontessoriStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Parkside ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Paw Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Performance Learning CenterStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Phillip O Berry Academy Of TechnologyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Piedmont Middle SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Pineville ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Pinewood ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Piney Grove ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Polo Ridge ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Providence High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Providence Spring ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Quail Hollow MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Rama Road ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Randolph MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Ranson MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Rea Farms STEAM AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Reedy Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Reid Park AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Renaissance West Steam AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Ridge Road MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
River Oaks AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Rocky River High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Sedgefield MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Selwyn ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Shamrock Gardens ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Sharon ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Smithfield ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
South Charlotte MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
South Mecklenburg High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
South Pine AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Southwest Middle SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Starmount Academy Of ExcellenStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Statesville Road ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Steele Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Sterling ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Stoney Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Thomasboro AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Torrence Creek ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Trillium Springs MontessoriStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Tuckaseegee ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Turning Point AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
University Meadows ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
University Park Creative ArtsStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Vaughan Academy Of TechnologyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Villa Heights ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Walter G. Byers SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
West Charlotte High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
West Mecklenburg High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Westerly Hills AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Whitewater AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Whitewater MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
William Amos Hough HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Williams Secondary MontessoriStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Wilson Stem AcademyStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Winding Springs ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Windsor Park ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Winget Park ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Winterfield ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Zebulon B. Vance High SchoolStep 6 Obtain School Approval 560
Char-Meck Virtual High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Virtual ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Virtual MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
168 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
563
March 6, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
562
March 5, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
560
February 26, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
558
February 19, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
557
February 16, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
555
January 29, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
553
January 26, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
549
January 18, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
548
January 15, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
547
January 13, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
546
January 11, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
544
January 9, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
541
December 30, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
539
December 21, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
538
December 10, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
536
December 8, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
535
November 30, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
534
November 17, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
534
July 30, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
506
July 28, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
505
July 23, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
499
June 15, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
494
May 20, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
493
May 9, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
491
April 22, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
490
March 28, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
487
March 20, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
484
March 4, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
482
January 18, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
481
January 6, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
481
December 31, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
480
October 7, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
479
September 10, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
478
August 23, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
477
August 13, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
476
June 20, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
475
June 15, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
475
June 6, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
475
May 2, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
474
April 26, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
471
April 4, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
470
March 25, 2024
 
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