New Haven School District
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State Law

Connecticut is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map NEW HAVEN, CT 06519 New Haven County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 29.8% (data source)
Non-White Students 90.2% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 2026
Connecticut 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 (39)
School Grades Period
Augusta Lewis Troup School
Barack H. Obama Magnet University School
Barnard Environmental Magnet School
Beecher School
Benjamin Jepson Magnet School
Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School
Bishop Woods Architecture And Design Magnet School
Brennan Rogers School
Celentano Biotech Health And Medical Magnet School
Clinton Avenue School
Columbus Family Academy
Conte-West Hills Magnet School
Cooperative High School - Inter-District Magnet
Davis Academy For Arts & Design Innovation
East Rock Community Magnet School
Edgewood School
Engineering - Science University Magnet School
Fair Haven School
High School In The Community
Hill Central Music Academy
Hill Regional Career High School
James Hillhouse High School
John C. Daniels
John S. Martinez Sea And Sky Stem School
King-Robinson Magnet School
Lincoln-Bassett School
Mauro-Sheridan Magnet School
Metropolitan Business Academy
Nathan Hale School
New Haven Academy
Quinnipiac Real World Math Stem School
Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy For Global Awareness
Ross-Woodward School
Sound School
Truman School
West Rock Authors Academy
Wexler-Grant Community School
Wilbur Cross High School
Worthington Hooker School
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