Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Step 6 of 10
Obtain School Approval (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

38

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Colorado is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

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
Colorado 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 (54)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Centennial Elementary SchoolStep 4 Obtain School Approval 111
Glacier Peak Elementary SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 111
Century Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Federal Heights Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Hillcrest Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Hulstrom Options K-8 SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Hunters Glen Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Mountain View Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Rocky Top Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Stem LabStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Tarver Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 111
Adams12 Five Star Preschool No Progress
Arapahoe Ridge Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Bright Horizons Preschool No Progress
Cherry Drive Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Coronado Hills Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Cotton Creek Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Coyote Ridge Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Eagleview Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Horizon High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Legacy High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Leroy Drive Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Malley Drive Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Mcelwain Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Meridian Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Mountain Range High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
New America School - Thornton No Progress
North Mor Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
North Star Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Northglenn High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Northglenn Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Pathways Future CenterStep 4 No Progress 111
Prairie Hills Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Prospect Ridge Academy No Progress
Riverdale Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Rocky Mountain Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Shadow Ridge Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Silver Creek ElementaryStep 4 No Progress 111
Silver Hills Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Skyview Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Stargate Charter School No Progress
Stellar Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Stem LaunchStep 4 No Progress 111
Stukey Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
The Studio SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Thornton Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Thornton High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Thornton Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Thunder Vista P-8Step 4 No Progress 111
Vantage PointStep 4 No Progress 111
Westgate Charter No Progress
Westlake Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Westview Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
Woodglen Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 111
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
38
April 17, 2026
 
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