Calcasieu Parish
Step 4 of 10
Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

27

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Louisiana is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Lake Charles, LA 70615 Calcasieu Parish
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 22.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 44.1% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated April 17, 2026
Louisiana 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 (58)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Iowa High SchoolStep 4 Form a Steering Committee 71
Alfred M. Barbe High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Bell City High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Cypress Cove Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Frasch Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Maplewood ElementaryStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Moss Bluff Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Oak Park Middle SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Prien Lake Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Sulphur High SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
Vinton Elementary SchoolStep 4 Collect 50 Signatures 71
A. A. Nelson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Barbe Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Brentwood Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
College Oaks Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Combre-Fondel Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Dequincy Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Dequincy High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Dequincy Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Dequincy Primary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Dolby Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
E. K. Key Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
F. K. White Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Fairview Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Gillis Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Henry Heights Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
J. I. Watson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Jake Drost School for Exceptional ChildrenStep 4 No Progress 71
Jessie D. Clifton Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
John F. Kennedy Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
John J. Johnson Ii Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Lagrange High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Leblanc Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Lebleu Settlement Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
M. J. Kaufman Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Maplewood Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Moss Bluff Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Oak Park Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Pearl Watson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Ralph F. Wilson Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Richard W. Vincent Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
S. J. Welsh Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
S. P. Arnett Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Sam Houston High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
St. John Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Starks High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
T. H. Watkins Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Vincent Settlement Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Vinton High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Vinton Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
W. T. Henning Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
W. W. Lewis Middle SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Washington-Marion Magnet High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Western Heights Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Westlake High SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
Westwood Elementary SchoolStep 4 No Progress 71
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
27
April 17, 2026
 
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise.

 



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