Aberdeen School District
Step 10 of 10
Open for Enrollment (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

97

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Washington is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Lifewise Enrollment
Location Map ABERDEEN, WA 98520 Grays Harbor County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 19.6% (data source)
Non-White Students 48.8% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 19, 2026
Washington 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 (13)
School Grades Period
A J West Elementary K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Mcdermoth Elementary K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Central Park Elementary
Grays Harbor Academy
Grays Harbor Juvenile Detention
Harbor High School
Harbor Open Doors
Hopkins Elementary
J M Weatherwax High School
Miller Junior High
Robert Gray Elementary
Stevens Elementary School
Twin Harbors A Branch of New Market Skills Center
11 schools not shown
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Local Personel Download All Lifewise Personel List
Title Name Email Active
Director Bithia Hatch bithiahatch@lifewise.org Yes
Teacher Vanessa Berndt No

Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
97
January 19, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
96
January 18, 2026
Step 10
Open for Enrollment
95
March 29, 2025
Step 9
Execute the Plan
94
December 31, 2024
Step 8
Train Your Team
93
September 26, 2024
Step 7
Recruit Your Team
0
August 13, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
89
August 1, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
88
July 26, 2024
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
87
July 17, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
85
July 8, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
68
June 24, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
66
June 20, 2024
Step 5
Draft a Plan
64
June 15, 2024
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
64
June 6, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
64
May 17, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
63
May 11, 2024
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
56
May 7, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
33
May 4, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
26
May 2, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
 
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