111
People who signed Lifewise's petition
Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state
| Location Map | Frederick, MD 21701 Frederick County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 6.1% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 51.0% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | January 18, 2026 |
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:
- The public schools should be neutral. “School authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request.”
- No announcements in the school with regard to the released time program.
- Released time classes are held off of school property
- No public funds or employees are used to facilitate the released time program.
- Parents give their signed consent form to the administration.
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.
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.
Share With Others Click to share| School | Step | Description | Grades | Period | Signatures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballenger Creek Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Ballenger Creek Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Butterfly Ridge Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Catoctin High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 4 | ||
| Crestwood Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Emmitsburg Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Frederick High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 6 | ||
| Glade Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Gov. Thomas Johnson High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Hillcrest Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Lewistown Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Linganore High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Middletown Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Middletown High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| New Market Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Orchard Grove Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Thurmont Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 39 | ||
| Thurmont Primary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Tuscarora High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Valley Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Walkersville Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Walkersville High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Whittier Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Blue Heron Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Brunswick Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Brunswick High | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Brunswick Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Carroll Manor Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Centerville Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Deer Crossing Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Frederick Classical Charter | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Frederick County Career & Technology Center | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Frederick County Virtual | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Green Valley Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Heather Ridge | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Kemptown Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Liberty Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Lincoln Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Middletown Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Middletown Primary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Monocacy Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Monocacy Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Monocacy Valley Montessori | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Myersville Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| New Market Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| New Midway-Woodsboro Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| North Frederick Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Oakdale Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Oakdale High | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Oakdale Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Parkway Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Rock Creek | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Sabillasville Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Spring Ridge Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Sugarloaf Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Thurmont Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Tuscarora Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Twin Ridge Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Urbana Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Urbana High | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Urbana Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Walkersville Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Waverley Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| West Frederick Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Windsor Knolls Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Wolfsville Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Yellow Springs Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
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