Recent news reports highlight how more and more, public school students in other states are able to leave campus during the day for religious instruction — something commonly known as “released time.”
Released time makes it possible for students to be excused from school so they can attend Bible studies or other religious classes during normal school hours. Thanks to federal court rulings, released time programs have been in operation for decades — and in some states it’s growing.
Earlier this year, our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) reported that Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill into law that formally recognizes released time programs. The law outlines how parents may have their children briefly excused from school during the day to receive free religious instruction off-campus. Last month, the Alabama Daily News highlighted how released time in the state has expanded since the law’s passage.
In August, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that released time growing in Arkansas’ public schools as well.
Arkansas does not have a state law outlining how released time works, but released programs operate in the state under federal court rulings. Generally speaking, released time in Arkansas requires three components:
- A church or other organization that wants to fund and conduct a released time program off-campus.
- School board approval for a policy authorizing students to leave campus for released time during school hours.
- Parental consent for the student to participate in the program.
Once a church or other group properly plans and prepares to operate a released time program, they can go to the local school board to seek approval and then collaborate with the school district to set the best time in the day for a released time program.
As long as the program meets off-campus, obtains parental consent, and is privately funded, then the school board may authorize the program.
The private entity that oversees the released time program is encouraged to work with the local school district and school board to set up a mutually agreeable schedule that benefits students. If planned correctly, released time programs generally do not conflict with a student’s core courses like math or English.
In June, the organization LifeWise Academy shared ways it is expanding released time opportunities for students in Arkansas.
LifeWise serves more than 1,200 students at approximately a dozen locations across the state. The program is expected to continue to grow in the coming year.
Family Council hopes to work with state and local policymakers in the future to promote released time programs and help pass a law formally recognizing released time in Arkansas.
If you are interested in starting a released time program in your community, you are welcome to contact our office at 501-375-7000 for more information.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
