36
People who signed Lifewise's petition
Virginia is a
"No-Statute" state
| Location Map | Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Virginia Beach city |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 10.7% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 54.9% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | September 2, 2026 |
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:
- The public schools should be neutral. “School authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request.”
- No announcements in the school with regard to the released time program.
- Released time classes are held off of school property
- No public funds or employees are used to facilitate the released time program.
- Parents give their signed consent form to the administration.
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.
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.
Share With Others Click to share| School | Step | Description | Grades | Period | Signatures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birdneck Elem | Step 4 | Draft a Plan | 101 | ||
| Bayside 6th Grade Campus | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Bayside Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Bayside High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Bayside Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Brandon Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Brookwood Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Centerville Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| College Park Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Corporate Landing Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Corporate Landing Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Creeds Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Diamond Springs Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Fairfield Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| First Colonial High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Floyd Kellam High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Frank W. Cox High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Glenwood Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| GOV STEM ACADEMY AT LANDSTOWN HIGH | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Great Neck Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Green Run Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Green Run High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Hermitage Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Holland Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Independence Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Indian Lakes Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| John B. Dey Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Kempsville Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Kempsville High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Kempsville Meadows Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Kempsville Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| King's Grant Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Kingston Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Landstown Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Landstown High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Landstown Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Larkspur Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Linkhorn Park Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Luxford Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Lynnhaven Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Lynnhaven Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Malibu Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| New Castle Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Newtown Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| North Landing Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Ocean Lakes Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Ocean Lakes High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Old Donation School | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Parkway Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Pembroke Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Pembroke Meadows Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Plaza Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Point O' View Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Princess Anne Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Princess Anne High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Princess Anne Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Providence Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Red Mill Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Rosemont Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Rosemont Forest Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Salem Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Salem High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Salem Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Seatack Elem An Achievable Dream Academy | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Shelton Park Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Strawbridge Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Tallwood Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Tallwood High | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Thalia Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| THE RENAISSANCE ACADEMY | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Thoroughgood Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Three Oaks Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Trantwood Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Virginia Beach Middle | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| W.t. Cooke Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| White Oaks Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Williams Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Windsor Oaks Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Windsor Woods Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| Woodstock Elem | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 101 | ||
| ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CTR. | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 101 | ||
| Alanton Elem | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 101 | ||
| Arrowhead Elem | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 101 | ||
| Christopher Farms Elem | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 101 | ||
| Green Run Collegiate | No Progress | ||||
| TECHNICAL & CAREER ED. CTR. | No Progress |
| Title | Name | Active |
|---|
| Org Type | Org Name | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tpusa | First Colonial High School | , | |
| Tpusa | Floyd E Kellam High School | , | |
| Tpusa | Virginia Beach High School | , |
