216
People who signed Lifewise's petition
Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state
| Location Map | Bel Air, MD 21014 Harford County |
| Lifewise Local Program Website | Link (opens in a new tab) |
| District Poverty Rate | 6.7% (data source) |
| Non-White Students | 42.1% (data source) |
| NCES Link | NCES District Info |
| Last Updated | January 20, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 8 | ||
| Aberdeen Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 6 | ||
| Abingdon Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Bel Air Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 4 | ||
| Bel Air High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 5 | ||
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| C. Milton Wright High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Church Creek Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
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| Edgewood High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
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| Emmorton Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Fallston High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Fallston Middle School | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Forest Hill Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Fountain Green Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Harford Technical High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 4 | ||
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| Homestead-Wakefield Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Jarrettsville Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 4 | ||
| Joppatowne Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 10 | ||
| Joppatowne High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Magnolia Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| North Bend Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| North Harford Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| North Harford High | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 8 | ||
| North Harford Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Patterson Mill High School | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Ring Factory Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 2 | ||
| Roye-Williams Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Southampton Middle | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| William Paca-Old Post Road Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 1 | ||
| Youths Benefit Elementary | Step 1 | Collect 50 Signatures | 3 | ||
| Bakerfield Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Center for Educational Opportunity | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Darlington Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Deerfield Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Dublin Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Forest Lakes Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| G. Lisby Elementary At Hillsdale | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Halls Cross Roads Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Havre De Grace Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Havre De Grace Middle | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| John Archer School | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Magnolia Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Meadowvale Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Norrisville Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Patterson Mill Middle School | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Prospect Mill Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Red Pump Elementary School | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Riverside Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| Swan Creek School | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
| William S. James Elementary | Step 0 | No Progress | 0 | ||
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