Baltimore County Public Schools
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State Law

Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Towson, MD 21204 Baltimore County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 9.1% (data source)
Non-White Students 69.7% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
Maryland 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 (177)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Arbutus ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Arbutus MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Berkshire ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Catonsville ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Chesapeake Terrace ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Cockeysville MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Dulaney HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Dundalk ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Dundalk HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Dundalk MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 24
Golden Ring MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Harford Hills ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 4
Hereford HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Logan ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 83
Mays Chapel ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Parkville HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Perry Hall HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Prettyboy ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Randallstown HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Sandy Plains ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Stoneleigh ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Warren ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Baltimore Highlands ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Battle Grove ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Battle Monument SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
BCDC Educational CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Bear Creek ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Bedford ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Campfield Early Childhood CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Carney ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Carroll Manor ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Catonsville Center for Alternative StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Catonsville HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Catonsville MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Cedarmere ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Central EDLP at Loch Raven High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Chadwick ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Chapel Hill ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Charlesmont ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Chase ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Chatsworth SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Chesapeake HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Church Lane ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Colgate ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Cromwell Valley Elementary Regional MagnetStep 0 No Progress 0
Crossroads CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Deep Creek ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Deep Creek MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Deer Park ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Deer Park Middle Magnet SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Dogwood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Dumbarton MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Eastern Technical High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Edgemere ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Edmondson Heights ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Elmwood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Essex ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Featherbed Lane ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Fifth District ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Fort Garrison ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Franklin ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Franklin HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Franklin MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Fullerton ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
General John Stricker MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
George W. Carver Center for Arts & TechnologyStep 0 No Progress 0
Glenmar ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Glyndon ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Grange ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Gunpowder ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Halethorpe ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Halstead AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Hampton ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hawthorne ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hebbville ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hereford MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Hernwood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hillcrest ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Holabird MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Home Assignments-ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Home Assignments-SecondaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Honeygo ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Jacksonville ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Johnnycake ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Joppa View ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Kenwood HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Kingsville ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Lansdowne ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Lansdowne HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Lansdowne MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Loch Raven HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Loch Raven Technical AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Lutherville LaboratoryStep 0 No Progress 0
Lyons Mill ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Maiden Choice SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Mars Estates ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Martin Boulevard ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Mccormick ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Meadowood Education CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Middle River MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Middleborough ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Middlesex ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Milbrook ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Milford Mill AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
New Town ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
New Town HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Northeast EDLP at Parkville High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Northwest Academy Of Health SciencesStep 0 No Progress 0
Northwest EDLP at Milford Mill AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Norwood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Oakleigh ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Oliver Beach ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Orems ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Overlea HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Owings Mills ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Owings Mills HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Padonia International ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Parkville MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Patapsco High And Center For ArtsStep 0 No Progress 0
Perry Hall ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Perry Hall MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Pikesville HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Pikesville MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Pine Grove ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Pine Grove MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Pinewood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Pleasant Plains ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Pot Spring ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Powhatan ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Randallstown ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Red House Run ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Reisterstown ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Relay ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Riderwood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Ridge/Ruxton SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ridgely MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Riverview ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Rodgers Forge ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Rosedale CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Sandalwood ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Scotts Branch ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Seneca ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Seven Oaks ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Seventh District ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Shady Spring ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Sollers Point Technical High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Southeast EDLP at Dundalk High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Southwest AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Southwest EDLP at Woodlawn High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Sparks ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Sparrows Point HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Sparrows Point MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Stemmers Run MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Sudbrook Magnet MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Summit Park ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Sussex ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Timber Grove ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Timonium ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Towson HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Victory Villa ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Villa Cresta ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Vincent Farm ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Watershed Public CharterStep 0 No Progress 0
Wellwood International SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
West Towson ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Westchester ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Western School of TechnologyStep 0 No Progress 0
Westowne ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
White Oak SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Winand ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Windsor Mill MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Winfield ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodbridge ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodholme ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodlawn HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodlawn MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodmoor ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
167 schools not shown
136
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 5
Draft a Plan
180
January 18, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
179
January 16, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
178
January 10, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
177
January 7, 2026
Step 5
Draft a Plan
176
December 28, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
175
December 17, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
173
December 15, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
171
December 12, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
169
December 10, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
165
December 4, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
164
November 30, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
163
November 27, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
163
November 5, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
161
October 24, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
159
October 16, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
158
October 14, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
157
September 27, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
156
September 27, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
156
January 6, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
136
January 4, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
136
December 31, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
133
December 13, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
131
November 19, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
130
September 27, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
129
September 10, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
128
July 9, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
127
June 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
June 16, 2024
 
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