Aurora West Usd 129
Step 10 of 10
Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

202

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Illinois is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Lifewise Enrollment
Location Map Aurora, IL 60506 Kane County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 13.9% (data source)
Non-White Students 80.1% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 2026
Illinois State Law

Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

(105 ILCS 5/26-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-1) Sec. 26-1. Compulsory school age; exemptions. Whoever has custody or control of any child (i) between the ages of 7 and 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high school) for school years before the 2014-2015 school year or (ii) between the ages of 6 (on or before September 1) and 17 years (unless the child has already graduated from high school) beginning with the 2014-2015 school year shall cause such child to attend some public school in the district wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session during the regular school term, except as provided in Section 10-19.1, and during a required summer school program established under Section 10-22.33B; provided, that the following children shall not be required to attend the public schools:

5. Any child absent from a public school on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day for the reason that he is unable to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day because of religious reasons, including the observance of a religious holiday or participation in religious instruction, or because the tenets of his religion forbid secular activity on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day. A school board may require the parent or guardian of a child who is to be excused from attending school because of religious reasons to give notice, not exceeding 5 days, of the child's absence to the school principal or other school personnel. Any child excused from attending school under this paragraph 5 shall not be required to submit a written excuse for such absence after returning to school. A district superintendent shall develop and distribute to schools appropriate procedures regarding a student's absence for religious reasons, how schools are notified of a student's impending absence for religious reasons, and the requirements of Section 26-2b of this Code;

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.

Share With Others Click to Copy Click to share
Schools in the District (17)
School Grades Period
Freeman Elem School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Greenman Elem School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Hall Elem School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Mccleery Elem School 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Washington Middle School 6th, 7th, 8th
Fearn Elementary School
Goodwin Elem School
Herget Middle School
Hill Elem School
Hope D Wall Tmh Child Dev Ctr
Jefferson Middle School
Jewel Middle School
Nicholson Elem School
Schneider Elem School
Smith Elem School
West Aurora High School
West Aurora Learning Center-Early Learning Academy
12 schools not shown
Show/Hide All Schools
Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active
Director Christie Hart christiehart@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher Rebecca Griffey Yes
Teacher Tori Mull Yes

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
202
December 25, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
201
December 12, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
200
November 22, 2025
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
199
February 2, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
191
November 19, 2024
Step 8
Train Your Team
191
September 26, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
0
August 2, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
181
July 26, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
174
July 16, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
170
July 9, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
166
June 30, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
156
June 25, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
112
June 20, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
76
June 15, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
76
May 17, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
76
April 4, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
75
March 29, 2024
Step 3
Raise $500
75
March 25, 2024
 
 
Enrollment Data
School Enrollment Lifewise Enrollment % Date
No enrollment information
School/district enrollment numbers from https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
Lifewise enrollment numbers come from social media, newsletters, press, and public record requests. Contact RPS with enrollment numbers.
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise.

 



Respect Public Schools
Contact Info
keithc@respectpublicschools.com
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2026
Paid for by Keith Comer