Chesterfield Co Pblc Schs
Step 6 of 10
Obtain School Approval (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

133

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Virginia is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Chesterfield, VA 23832 Chesterfield County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 8.0% (data source)
Non-White Students 57.1% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated March 6, 2026
Virginia 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
A M Davis ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Alberta Smith ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Bailey Bridge MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Bellwood ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Bensley ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Bettie Weaver ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Beulah ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Bon Air ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
C C Wells ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
C E Curtis ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
CARVER COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMYStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Carver MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
CHESTERFIELD CO GOV'S HEALTH/SCIENCE ACADEMYStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Clover Hill ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Clover Hill HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Cosby HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Crestwood ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Ecoff ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Elizabeth Davis MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Elizabeth Scott ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Enon ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Ettrick ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Evergreen ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Falling Creek ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Falling Creek MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Grange Hall ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Greenfield ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Harrowgate ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Hopkins Road ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
J A Chalkley ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
J B Watkins ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
J G Hening ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Jacobs Road ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
James River HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Lloyd C Bird HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Manchester HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Manchester MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Marguerite F Christian ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Matoaca ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Matoaca HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Matoaca MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Meadowbrook HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Midlothian HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Midlothian MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Monacan HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
MOSELEY ELEMStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
O B Gates ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Old Hundred ElementaryStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
PHOENIX CENTERStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Providence ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Providence MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Reams Road ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Robious ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Robious MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Salem Church ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Salem Church MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Spring Run ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Swift Creek ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Swift Creek MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Thelma Crenshaw ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Thomas Dale HighStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Tomahawk Creek MiddleStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
W W Gordon ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Winterpock ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
Woolridge ElemStep 6 Obtain School Approval 131
ACADEMY 360Step 0 No Progress 0
CcpsonlineStep 0 No Progress 0
CHESTER EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING ACADEMYStep 0 No Progress 0
CHESTERFIELD CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER AT HULLStep 0 No Progress 0
CHESTERFIELD CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER AT COURTHOUSEStep 0 No Progress 0
GOVERNORS CAREER AND TECHNICAL ACADEMY FOR ENGINEERING STUDIStep 0 No Progress 0
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
133
March 6, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
131
February 28, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
130
February 26, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
128
February 22, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
127
February 18, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
126
February 16, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
125
February 14, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
120
February 10, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
119
January 31, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
118
January 29, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
116
January 26, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
113
January 21, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
111
January 8, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
109
December 17, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
108
December 13, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
107
December 8, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
106
December 5, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
105
November 24, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
104
November 17, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
103
June 6, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
76
January 18, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
65
December 31, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
64
October 9, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
62
October 7, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
59
September 26, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
55
September 10, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
52
August 30, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
50
August 24, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
40
June 20, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
36
May 20, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
30
May 7, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
28
April 24, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
25
March 29, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
22
March 25, 2024
 
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