Jefferson Parish
Step 6 of 10
Obtain School Approval (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

114

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Louisiana is a
"No-Statute" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map Harvey, LA 70058 Jefferson Parish
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 21.9% (data source)
Non-White Students 79.2% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
Louisiana 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 (81)
School Step Description Grades Period Signatures
Bridgedale Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Chateau Estates Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Harahan Elementary SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
John Q. Adams Middle SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
Riverdale High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
West Jefferson High SchoolStep 1 Collect 50 Signatures 1
A.c. Alexander Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Airline Park Academy For Advanced StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Alice Birney Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Allen Ellender SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Bissonet Plaza Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Bonella A. St. Ville Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Bonnabel Magnet Academy High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Congetta Trippe Janet Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
East Jefferson High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ella C. Pittman Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ella Dolhonde Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Estelle Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Fisher Middle-High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
G.t. Woods Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
George Cox Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Geraldine Boudreaux Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Grace King High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Grand Isle High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Green Park Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Greenlawn Terrace Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Gretna Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Gretna No. 2 Academy For Advanced StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Harold Keller Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Harry S. Truman Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Haynes Academy School For Advanced StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Hazel Park-Hilda Knoff SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Helen Cox High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Henry Ford Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
J.c. Ellis Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
J.d. Meisler Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
J.j. Audubon Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
JcfaStep 0 No Progress 0
Jefferson Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Jefferson Rise Charter SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Jefferson Virtual High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
John Clancy-Joseph Maggiore Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
John Ehret High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
John Martyn Community SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Joseph A. Cuillier Sr. Career CenterStep 0 No Progress 0
Joshua Butler Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Judge Lionel R. Collins Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Kenner Discovery Health Sciences AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
L.h. Marrero Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
L.w. Higgins High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Laureate Academy Charter SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Leo E. Kerner Jr. Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lincoln Elementary School For The ArtsStep 0 No Progress 0
Livaudais Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Lucille Cherbonnier-Norbert Rillieux Elem. SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Marie B. Riviere Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Mcdonogh 26-Homedale Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Metairie Academy For Advanced StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Mildred S. Harris Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Myrtle C. Thibodeaux Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology AcademyStep 0 No Progress 0
Paul J. Solis Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Phoebe Hearst SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ralph J Bunche ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Ray St. Pierre Academy For Advanced StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Rudolph Matas SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Ruppel Academie FrancaiseStep 0 No Progress 0
Stella Worley Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
T.h. Harris Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Terrytown Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Theodore Roosevelt Middle SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Thomas Jefferson High School For Advanced StudiesStep 0 No Progress 0
Walter Schneckenburger Elem SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Washington MontessoriStep 0 No Progress 0
Westbank Community SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
William Hart Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodland West Elementary SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Woodmere ElementaryStep 0 No Progress 0
Young Audiences Charter High SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
Young Audiences Charter SchoolStep 0 No Progress 0
71 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
114
January 8, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
113
January 4, 2026
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
112
December 30, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
111
December 21, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
110
December 12, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
109
December 8, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
107
December 6, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
102
December 1, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
101
November 26, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
98
November 20, 2025
Step 6
Obtain School Approval
96
October 10, 2025
Step 5
Draft a Plan
84
July 23, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
64
June 15, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
9
September 18, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
8
July 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
1
April 24, 2024
Step 0
No Progress
0
March 17, 2024
 
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