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
SECTION 59-1-460. Excused school attendance for religious instruction.
(A) The school district board of trustees may adopt a policy that authorizes a student to be excused from school to attend a class in religious instruction conducted by a private entity if:
(1) the student's parent or guardian gives written consent;
(2) the sponsoring entity maintains attendance records and makes them available to the public school the student attends;
(3) transportation to and from the place of instruction, including transportation for students with disabilities, is the complete responsibility of the sponsoring entity, parent, or guardian;
(4) the sponsoring entity makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student who is excused; and
(5) no public funds are expended and no public school personnel are involved in providing the religious instruction.
(B) It is the responsibility of a participating student to make up any missed schoolwork. However, no student may be released from a core academic subject class to attend a religious instruction class. While in attendance in a religious instruction class pursuant to this section, a student is not considered to be absent from school.
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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Lifewise Academy, a fundamentalist Christian ministry, is planning to remove students from our local schools. Lifewise has made public schools its mission field and aims to convert every student to its version of Christianity. Background checks for Lifewise employees and volunteers are not conducted to the same standard as public schools. Lifewise does not allow parents, churches, and the general public to fully review its curriculum. Lifewise Academy does not improve attendance, behavior, or school performance, contrary to statements by Lifewise. Please read more at https://respectpublicschools.com/myrtle-beach-child-development-center-horry-county-sc Read and learn about Lifewise Academy, inform your school board and administration, and get involved.
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No class schedule info. LifeWise classes are not open for enrollment.
