Kanawha County Schools
Step 4 of 10
Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

58

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

West Virginia is a
"May" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map CHARLESTON, WV 25311 Kanawha County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 17.2% (data source)
Non-White Students 19.5% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated September 1, 2026
West Virginia State Law

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

Full Law Text Link to State Law

§18-8-1. Compulsory school attendance; exemptions.

(j) A child is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirement set forth in §18-8-1a of this code if the requirements of this subsection, relating to church ordinances and observances of regular church ordinances, are met. The county board may approve exemption for religious instruction upon written request of the person having legal or actual charge of a child or children. This exemption is subject to the rules prescribed by the county superintendent and approved by the county board.

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 (69)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Chamberlain Elementary SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 135
Elk Elementary CenterStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 135
Andrew Jackson Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Anne Bailey Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Belle Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Capital High School Collect 50 Signatures
Clendenin Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Cross Lanes Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Du Pont Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
East Bank Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Elkview Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Flinn Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Herbert Hoover High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Malden Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Mary C. Snow West Side ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Mary Ingles Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Nitro High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Riverside High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
South Charleston High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
South Charleston Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 135
Alban Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Alum Creek Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Andrews Heights Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
BEN FRANKLIN CAREER CENTERStep 4 No Progress 135
Bridge Elementary School No Progress
Bridgeview Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
CARVER CAREER CENTERStep 4 No Progress 135
Cedar Grove Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Cedar Grove Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Central Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
CHANDLER ACADEMYStep 4 No Progress 135
Chesapeake Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Dunbar Intermediate CenterStep 4 No Progress 135
Dunbar Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Dunbar Primary CenterStep 4 No Progress 135
Edgewood ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 135
GARNET CAREER CENTERStep 4 No Progress 135
George C. Weimer Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
George Washington High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Grandview Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Hayes Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Holz Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Horace Mann Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
John Adams Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Kanawha City Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Kenna Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Lakewood Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Marmet Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Mckinley Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Midland Trail Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Montrose Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Nitro Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Overbrook Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Piedmont Year-Round EducationStep 4 No Progress 135
Pinch Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Point Harmony Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Pratt Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Richmond Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Ruffner Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Ruthlawn Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Saint Albans High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Sharon Dawes Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Shoals Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Sissonville Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Sissonville High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Sissonville Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Stonewall Jackson Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
Weberwood Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 135
William J Raglin Center No Progress
59 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
58
August 18, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
57
August 10, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
56
August 8, 2026
 
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