Howard County Public Schools
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State Law

Maryland is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Ellicott City, MD 21042 Howard County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 5.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 69.7% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 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 (71)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Burleigh Manor Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Ducketts LaneStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Hammond HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Howard HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Longfellow ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 5
Pointers Run ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 2
Reservoir HighStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 3
Rockburn ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
West Friendship ElementaryStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Wilde Lake MiddleStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Atholton ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Atholton HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Bellows Spring ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Bonnie Branch MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Bryant Woods ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Bushy Park ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Cedar Lane Special CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Centennial HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Centennial Lane ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Clarksville ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Clarksville MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Clemens Crossing ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Cradlerock ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Dayton OaksStep 0 No Progress 0
Deep Run ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Dunloggin MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Elkridge ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Elkridge Landing MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Ellicott Mills MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Folly Quarter MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Forest Ridge ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Fulton ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Glenelg HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Glenwood MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Gorman Crossing ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Guilford ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hammond ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Hanover HillsStep 0 No Progress 0
Hollifield Station ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Homewood SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ilchester ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Jeffers Hill ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Lake Elkhorn MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Laurel Woods ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Lime Kiln MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Lisbon ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Long Reach HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Manor Woods ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Marriotts Ridge HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Mayfield Woods MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Mount Hebron HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Mount View MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Murray Hill MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Oakland Mills HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Oakland Mills MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Patapsco MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
Patuxent Valley MiddleStep 0 No Progress 0
River Hill HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Running Brook ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
St. Johns Lane ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Stevens Forest ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Swansfield ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Talbott Springs ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Thomas ViaductStep 0 No Progress 0
Thunder Hill ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Triadelphia Ridge ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Veterans ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Waterloo ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Waverly ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Wilde Lake HighStep 0 No Progress 0
Worthington ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
61 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 1
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40
January 16, 2026
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38
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June 15, 2025
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May 9, 2025
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December 31, 2024
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October 9, 2024
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16
June 16, 2024
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June 16, 2024
 
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