Understanding “Released Time” at Public Schools

Religious Freedom, ,

During the legislative session earlier this year, there was discussion about released time at Arkansas’ public schools.

Legally in America, public schools may set aside released time during the school week for students to voluntarily attend religious classes off-campus. Released time programs have been in operation for over 100 years in the United States.

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.

In 1952, the U.S. Supreme Court case Zorach v. Clauson solidified released time programs in America after multiple lawsuits and another court case put it in jeopardy. In a 6-3 decision, the Court found that a New York Education Law permitting release time did not violate the First Amendment. As long as these programs are voluntary — with written parental consent — operate off school grounds, and are privately funded, they are constitutional.

Since the Zorach case, thousands of students have participated in released time programs all across the country. There are estimated to be hundreds, if not thousands, of released time programs in operation, serving more than 350,000 students in first grade through high school.

In 2007 the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette wrote about released time programs in Arkansas and elsewhere around the country, noting, “Even the Arkansas American Civil Liberties Union agrees it’s allowable.” Volunteers in Gravette, Arkansas, have taught a Bible to students for over 70 years in multiple ways, including released time. Other released time programs exist in Arkansas, either independently or through organizations like School Ministries or LifeWise that provide curricula to local groups.

While released time is legal under federal court rulings in Arkansas, the state has no law formally acknowledging released time or explaining how public school districts extend released time to students. As a result, many Arkansans don’t know that released time is available during normal school hours.

H.B. 1139 by Rep. Brit McKenzie (R — Rogers) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers) would have fixed that problem.

This good bill would have written released time into state law and clarified how public schools may excuse students for released time during school hours.

Unfortunately, the House Education Committee rejected H.B. 1139 in April after some 40 minutes of public testimony.

Family Council appreciates Rep. McKenzie and Sen. Bryant sponsoring this good bill, and we hope to work with state and local policymakers in the future to promote released time programs and pass a measure writing released time into Arkansas law.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Biological Male Takes First Place in Girls’ High School Track Meet

Transgender, ,

Last weekend, a biological male allegedly took first place in the Women’s 200 Meter race at a high school track meet in Pennsylvania.

https://twitter.com/WheelerKaitlynn/status/1921972625321943192

Apparently, the runner in question has competed in multiple athletic events this year. The Washington Times wrote about him in February, saying,

An 18-year-old male-born student who identifies as female is scheduled to compete Sunday in the girls’ indoor track-and-field event, despite President Trump’s executive order on single-sex sports and a gender-policy update approved last week by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Ron Lopresti, president of the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association, which sponsors the championships, said he was told that the PIAA’s policy changes really didn’t change much when it comes to transgender athletes.

As the article notes, earlier this year President Trump issued an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The order clarifies that Title IX protects women and girls from being forced to compete against men. It also protects women’s right to privacy in locker rooms, showers, changing areas, and similar facilities, and it directs federal officials to withdraw funding from educational programs that “deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”

We have written time and again about how women’s athletics is at risk of being erased in America.

Female cyclists, swimmers, powerlifters, sprinters, volleyball players, and others have seen their sports radically changed by men who claim to be women.

In 2021 Arkansas passed Act 461 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R — Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R — Smackover) to prevent male athletes from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school. This good law protects fairness in women’s sports in Arkansas.

In 2023 Arkansas lawmakers took additional action by passing Act 317 by Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) to protect privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities by requiring public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

And this year legislators passed Act 955 by Sen. Blake Johnson (R — Corning) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R — Perryville) protecting physical privacy and safety of Arkansans in showers, locker rooms, changing rooms, restrooms, and sleeping quarters in government buildings, jails, and in shelters for victims of domestic violence.

Taken together, all of these good laws protect fairness in women’s sports and preserve physical privacy and safety across Arkansas.

Letting men compete in women’s sports is unfair and reverses 50 years of advancements for women. In some cases it can even be dangerous. We appreciate our policymakers who work hard to protect fairness in women’s sports in Arkansas and across the country.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Chicago Woman Suspected of Giving THC Candy to Kids at Park

Marijuana,

News outlets report a Chicago-area woman is suspected of giving candy laced with THC to children at a park.

THC is the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, and health experts warn the drug poses serious risks. State laws permitting recreational marijuana — as well as loopholes in some laws governing industrial hemp — have led to an alarming rise in candies and drinks laced with THC.

ABC7 Chicago reports:

Officers responded to reports that four children had become ill at the park after eating candy handed out by an unknown woman. All of them were taken to a hospital, where one tested positive for THC, a psychoactive compound found in cannabis, Wheeling police said.

Police searched the park and found a THC milk chocolate product.

Nationwide, marijuana products like these — including gummies, candies, and other edibles containing THC — are sending kids to the emergency room.

Edibles laced with THC often mimic popular candies that appeal to children, but their high concentrations of THC make these products dangerous.

From heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects, marijuana has repeatedly been found to pose serious health hazards.

This year, multiple bills legalizing THC-infused drinks were filed at the Arkansas Legislature.

H.B. 1578 specifically would have legalized drinks containing THC in Arkansas. H.B. 1722 would have legalized e-cigarettes, food, drinks, and other products containing THC. A similar bill — S.B. 455 — would have legalized THC products as well.

Fortunately, none of these bills passed this year, and lawmakers actually enacted a measure to prohibit THC.

All of this simply underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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