Sd U-46
Step 5 of 10
Draft a Plan (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

80

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Illinois is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Elgin, IL 60120 Kane County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 11.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 76.9% (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.

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Schools in the District (58)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Bartlett Elem SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Central School ProgramStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
South Elgin High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Sycamore Trails Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Wayne Elem SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Abbott Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Bartlett High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Canton Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Centennial SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Century Oaks Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Channing Memorial Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Clinton Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Coleman Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Creekside ElemStep 0 No Progress 0
Dream AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Eastview Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Elgin High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ellis Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Fox Meadow Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Garfield Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Glenbrook Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Hanover Countryside Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Harriet Gifford Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Hawk Hollow Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Heritage Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Highland Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Hillcrest Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Hilltop Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Horizon Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Huff Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Illinois Park Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Independence PreschoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Kenyon Woods Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Kimball Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Larkin High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Larsen Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Laurel Hill Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Liberty Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lincoln Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lords Park Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lowrie Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Mckinley Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Nature Ridge Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Oakhill Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ontarioville Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Otter Creek Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Parkwood Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
PhoenixStep 0 No Progress 0
Prairieview Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ridge Circle Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ronald D O NealStep 0 No Progress 0
Spring Trail Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Streamwood High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Sunnydale Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Tefft Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Timber Trails Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Washington Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Willard Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
48 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 5
Draft a Plan
80
January 19, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
79
January 17, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
78
January 15, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
72
January 9, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
71
January 7, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
66
January 6, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
62
December 10, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
61
December 1, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
60
November 19, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
59
November 13, 2025
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
57
November 10, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
43
November 9, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
35
November 5, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
28
November 3, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
27
October 30, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
26
October 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
19
October 22, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
16
October 22, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
October 13, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
September 27, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
11
September 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
10
August 20, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
9
July 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
7
April 10, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
6
March 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
5
October 7, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
3
September 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
August 30, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
April 25, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
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