Jackson Public School District
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State Law

Mississippi is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map JACKSON, MS 39201 Hinds County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 33.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 98.5% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 2026
Mississippi 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 (55)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Bailey Middle Apac SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Baker Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Barack H Obama Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Bates Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Blackburn Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Boyd Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Brinkley Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Callaway High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
CAPITAL CITY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLStep 0 No Progress 0
Cardozo Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
CAREER ACADEMIC PLACEMENT PROGRAMStep 0 No Progress 0
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTERStep 0 No Progress 0
Casey Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Chastain Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Clausell Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Dawson Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Forest Hill High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
FRENCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLStep 0 No Progress 0
Galloway Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Green Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Isable Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Jim Hill High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
John Hopkins Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Johnson Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Key Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Kirksey Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lake Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lanier High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lee Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lester Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Marshall Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Mc Leod Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Mcwillie Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
MORRISON ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT CTRStep 0 No Progress 0
Murrah High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
North Jackson Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Northwest Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Oak Forest Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Pecan Park Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Peeples Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Powell Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Power Apac SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Provine High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Raines Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Smith Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Spann Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Sykes Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Timberlawn Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Van Winkle Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Walton Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Watkins Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Whitten Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Wilkins Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Wingfield High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
YOUTH COURT SCHOOLStep 0 No Progress 0
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
7
December 2, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
6
September 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
5
September 21, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
4
July 23, 2025
Step 1
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2
June 15, 2025
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
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