Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
Step 4 of 10
Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

219

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Winston Salem, NC 27105 Forsyth County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 20.4% (data source)
Non-White Students 67.8% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated March 4, 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 (71)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Ashley AcademyStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Atkins Academic & Tech HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Bolton ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Brunson ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Caleb's Creek ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Career CenterStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Carter High SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Carver HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Cash ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Childrens CenterStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Clemmons ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Cook Literacy Model SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
East Forsyth HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
East Forsyth Middle SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Easton Elementary SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Flat Rock MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Forest Park ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Frank Morgan ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Gibson ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Griffith ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Hanes Magnet SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
J F Kennedy HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Jefferson ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Kernersville ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Kernersville MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Kimberley Park ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Kimmel Farm ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Kingswood SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Konnoak ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Lewisville ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Lewisville MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Lowrance MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Meadowlark ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Meadowlark MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Middle College Of Forsyth CntyStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Mineral Springs ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Mineral Springs MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Moore Magnet ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Mount Tabor High SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
North Forsyth HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
North Hills ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Northwest MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Old Richmond ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Old Town ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Paisley Ib Magnet SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Parkland HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Petree ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Philo-Hill Magnet AcademyStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Piney Grove ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
R J Reynolds HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Robert B Glenn High SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Ronald W Reagan High SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Rural Hall ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Sedge Garden ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Sherwood Forest ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Smith Farm ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
South Fork ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Southeast MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Speas ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
The Downtown SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
The Special Children's SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Thomas Jefferson MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Union Cross Traditional AcadStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Vienna ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Walkertown ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Walkertown HighStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Walkertown MiddleStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Ward ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Whitaker ElementaryStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 219
Hospital/Homebound Education CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Virtual AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
61 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
219
February 26, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
217
February 23, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
216
February 21, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
215
February 20, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
214
February 16, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
212
February 11, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
210
February 6, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
209
February 5, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
208
February 3, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
207
January 26, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
206
January 21, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
205
January 16, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
204
January 9, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
203
January 2, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
202
December 26, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
201
December 1, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
201
November 28, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
200
November 22, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
199
November 13, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
198
March 28, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
134
January 6, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
120
January 4, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
120
December 31, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
117
September 18, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
109
August 23, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
108
August 13, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
117
August 1, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
115
July 25, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
113
July 17, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
112
July 9, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
110
June 30, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
102
June 24, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
101
June 20, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
68
June 15, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
54
May 20, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
42
May 17, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
38
May 11, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
37
May 4, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
36
May 2, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
16
April 24, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
15
April 4, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
March 29, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
March 25, 2024
 
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