Mount Pleasant Area SD
Step 10 of 10
Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

76

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Pennsylvania is a
"Shall" state

Learn more about state laws.

Lifewise Enrollment
Location Map Mount Pleasant, PA 15666 Westmoreland County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 11.7% (data source)
Non-White Students 5.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 18, 2026
Pennsylvania State Law

Schools are required to allow students to be released for religious programs. This does not mean schools do not have the ability to create policies that protect the school's instruction time.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

§ 11.21. Religious holidays and religious instruction.
(a) Upon written parental request, and in accordance with the policies of the district’s board of school directors, students may be excused from school for religious holidays observed by bona fide religious groups.

(b) Upon written parental request, a student shall be excused from school to attend classes for religious instruction under section 1546 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. § 15-1546). The excusal shall be limited to a total of not more than 36 hours per school year.

(c) A student’s absence from school for religious holidays or for religious instruction shall be recorded as an excused absence. A penalty may not be attached to an absence for religious holidays or instruction.

Authority
The provisions of this § 11.21 amended under section 1317(a) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 367(a) (Repealed)); and sections 1327, 1330, 1372, 1511 and 2603-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. § § 13-1327, 13-1330, 13-1372, 15-1511 and 26-2603-B).

Source
The provisions of this § 11.21 amended December 19, 1986, effective December 20, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 4874; amended October 22, 2004, effective October 23, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 5798. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (244457) to (244458).

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 (5)
School Grades Period
Donegal El Sch K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Mount Pleasant Area Hs 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Mount Pleasant Area Jhs 7th, 8th
Norvelt El Sch K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Ramsay El Sch 4th, 5th, 6th
Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active
Director Kristen Ranker kristenranker@lifewise.org Yes

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
76
October 9, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
76
July 29, 2025
Step 8
Train Your Team
76
March 20, 2025
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
76
November 6, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
75
October 29, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
75
September 27, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
75
August 29, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
73
August 23, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
63
August 13, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
58
August 2, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
56
July 26, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
38
July 22, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
38
July 16, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
19
July 10, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
16
July 1, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
9
June 20, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
2
June 11, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
 
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