38
People who signed Lifewise's petition
Colorado is a
"No-Statute" state
| Location Map | THORNTON, CO 80241 Adams County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 9.7% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 59.5% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | April 17, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Elementary School | Step 4 | Obtain School Approval | 111 | ||
| Glacier Peak Elementary School | Step 4 | Form a Steering Committee | 111 | ||
| Century Middle School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Federal Heights Elementary School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Hillcrest Elementary School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Hulstrom Options K-8 School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Hunters Glen Elementary School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Mountain View Elementary School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Rocky Top Middle School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Stem Lab | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Tarver Elementary School | Step 4 | Collect 50 Signatures | 111 | ||
| Adams12 Five Star Preschool | No Progress | ||||
| Arapahoe Ridge Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Bright Horizons Preschool | No Progress | ||||
| Cherry Drive Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Coronado Hills Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Cotton Creek Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Coyote Ridge Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Eagleview Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Horizon High School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Legacy High School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Leroy Drive Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Malley Drive Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Mcelwain Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Meridian Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Mountain Range High School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| New America School - Thornton | No Progress | ||||
| North Mor Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| North Star Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Northglenn High School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Northglenn Middle School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Pathways Future Center | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Prairie Hills Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Prospect Ridge Academy | No Progress | ||||
| Riverdale Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Rocky Mountain Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Shadow Ridge Middle School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Silver Creek Elementary | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Silver Hills Middle School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Skyview Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Stargate Charter School | No Progress | ||||
| Stellar Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Stem Launch | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Stukey Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| The Studio School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Thornton Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Thornton High School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Thornton Middle School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Thunder Vista P-8 | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Vantage Point | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Westgate Charter | No Progress | ||||
| Westlake Middle School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Westview Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 | ||
| Woodglen Elementary School | Step 4 | No Progress | 111 |
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| Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise. | ||||
