Norfolk City Pblc Schs
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State Law

Virginia is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Norfolk, VA 23510 Norfolk city
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 26.4% (data source)
Non-White Students 80.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated March 5, 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 (51)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Academy For Discovery At LakewoodStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Azalea MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Bay View ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Blair MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Booker T. Washington HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Camp Allen ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Chesterfield Academy ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Coleman Place ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Crossroads ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Fairlawn ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Ghent SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Granby ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Granby HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Ingleside ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Jacox ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
James Monroe ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Lake TaylorStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Lake Taylor HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Larchmont ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Larrymore ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Lindenwood ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Little Creek ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
MADISON ALTERNATIVEStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Mary Calcott ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Maury HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
NORFOLK ALTERNATIVE HIGHStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
NORFOLK ALTERNATIVE MIDDLEStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Northside MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Norview ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Norview HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Norview MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Ocean View ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Oceanair ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
P.b. Young Sr. ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Richard Bowling ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Ruffner MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Sewells Point ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Sherwood Forest ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Southside Stem Academy At CampostellaStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
St. Helena ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Suburban Park ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Tanners Creek ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Tarrallton ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
THE ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AT ROSEMONTStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Tidewater Park ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Walter Herron Taylor ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Willard Model ElemStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 13
Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Easton PreschoolStep 0 No Progress 0
NORFOLK TECHNICAL CTRStep 0 No Progress 0
Willoughby Early Childhood CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
14
March 5, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
February 22, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
February 16, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
11
February 12, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
10
January 27, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
9
January 27, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
7
January 23, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
6
January 21, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
5
January 18, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
4
January 6, 2026
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
3
October 18, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
October 11, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
October 9, 2025
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
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