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

205

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 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 (71)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Atkins Academic & Tech HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Bolton ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 8
Brunson ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 4
Caleb's Creek ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Career CenterStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Carter High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Carver HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Clemmons ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 11
Cook Literacy Model SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
East Forsyth HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 4
East Forsyth Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Flat Rock MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Frank Morgan ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Jefferson ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Kernersville ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Lewisville ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Lewisville MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Meadowlark ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Meadowlark MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Mount Tabor High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 7
North Forsyth HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Northwest MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Old Richmond ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Old Town ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 4
Parkland HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Piney Grove ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
R J Reynolds HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 4
Robert B Glenn High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Ronald W Reagan High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 6
Rural Hall ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Sherwood Forest ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Smith Farm ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
South Fork ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Speas ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Thomas Jefferson MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Union Cross Traditional AcadStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Vienna ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Walkertown MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Ward ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Whitaker ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Ashley AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Cash ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Childrens CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Easton Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Forest Park ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Gibson ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Griffith ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hanes Magnet SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Hospital/Homebound Education CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
J F Kennedy HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Kernersville MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Kimberley Park ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Kimmel Farm ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Kingswood SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Konnoak ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Lowrance MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Middle College Of Forsyth CntyStep 0 No Progress 0
Mineral Springs ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Mineral Springs MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Moore Magnet ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
North Hills ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Paisley Ib Magnet SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Petree ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Philo-Hill Magnet AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Sedge Garden ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Southeast MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
The Downtown SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
The Special Children's SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Virtual AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Walkertown ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Walkertown HighStep 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
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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