Harnett County Schools
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State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Lillington, NC 27546 Harnett County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 17.4% (data source)
Non-White Students 60.7% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 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 (29)
School Grades Period
Anderson Creek Primary
Angier Elementary
Benhaven Elementary
Boone Trail Elementary
Buies Creek Elementary
Coats Elementary
Coats-Erwin Middle
Dunn Middle
Erwin Elementary At Gentry
Harnett Central High
Harnett Central Middle
Harnett County Early College
Harnett Primary
Harnett Virtual Academy
Highland Elementary
Highland Middle
Johnsonville Elementary
Lafayette Elementary
Lillington-Shawtown Elementary
North Harnett Primary
Overhills Elementary
Overhills High
Overhills Middle
South Harnett Elementary
STAR Academy
Triton High
Wayne Avenue Elementary
Western Harnett High
Western Harnett Middle
19 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
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Date
Step 4
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89
December 16, 2025
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