New Hanover County Schools
Step 6 of 10
Obtain School Approval (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

287

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

North Carolina is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Wilmington, NC 28412 New Hanover County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 14.2% (data source)
Non-White Students 42.8% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 2026
North Carolina 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.

Share With Others Click to Copy Click to share
Schools in the District (42)
School Grades Period
A H Snipes Academy Of Arts-Des
Bradley Creek Elementary
Career Readiness Academy at Mosley PLC
Carolina Beach Elementary
Castle Hayne Elementary
Charles P Murray Middle
College Park Elementary
College Road Early Childhood Center
Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elem
Dr John Codington Elem
Edwin A Alderman Elementary
Edwin A Anderson Elementary
Emma B Trask Middle
Emsley A Laney High
Eugene Ashley High
Forest Hills Global Elementary
Heyward C Bellamy Elem
Holly Tree Elementary
Isaac M Bear Early College High School
J. C. Roe Center
John J Blair Elementary
John T Hoggard High
Lake Forest Academy
M C S Noble Middle
Mary C Williams Elementary
Murrayville Elementary
Myrtle Grove Middle
New Hanover High
Ogden Elementary
Pine Valley Elementary
Porters Neck Elementary
R Freeman Sch Of Engineering
Roland-Grise Middle
SEA-Tech
Sunset Park Elementary
The International School At Gregory
Walter L Parsley Elementary
Williston Middle
Wilmington Early College High
Winter Park Model Elementary
Wrightsboro Elementary
Wrightsville Beach Elem
32 schools not shown
Show/Hide All Schools
Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
287
January 19, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
286
January 16, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
285
January 15, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
283
January 15, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
268
January 12, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
265
January 8, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
264
December 22, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
245
December 16, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
244
December 14, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
243
December 13, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
242
December 13, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
207
December 10, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
204
December 8, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
200
December 6, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
198
December 4, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
179
December 2, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
166
December 1, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
131
December 1, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
126
November 30, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
125
November 26, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
121
November 22, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
120
November 19, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
115
November 18, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
111
November 18, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
95
November 17, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
93
November 17, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
90
November 16, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
82
November 14, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
81
November 14, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
77
November 9, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
73
November 9, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
72
November 7, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
64
November 4, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
63
November 4, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
62
November 3, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
60
November 2, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
57
October 30, 2025
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
53
October 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
52
October 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
48
October 25, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
43
October 22, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
42
October 14, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
41
October 6, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
40
September 27, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
37
September 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
36
September 21, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
35
September 19, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
32
September 17, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
31
September 16, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
30
September 14, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
29
September 13, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
26
August 16, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
25
July 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
23
June 16, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
22
May 20, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
19
May 9, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
18
April 30, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
17
April 10, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
16
March 20, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
15
March 4, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
January 18, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
December 31, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
10
November 6, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
8
October 29, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
7
July 31, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
6
April 26, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
Associated Organizations
Org Type Org Name Address Website
Submit churches, businesses and non-profits that support Lifewise.

 



Respect Public Schools
Contact Info
keithc@respectpublicschools.com
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2026
Paid for by Keith Comer