State Law - Rhode Island is a "No-Statute" State
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
Full Law Text
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:
- The public schools should be neutral. “School authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request.”
- No announcements in the school with regard to the released time program.
- Released time classes are held off of school property
- No public funds or employees are used to facilitate the released time program.
- Parents give their signed consent form to the administration.
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.
Notes
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Press/News/Media
District Stats
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All Districts
| District | Current Step | Signatures |
|---|---|---|
| Barrington | Step 1 | 1 |
| Bristol Warren | Step 1 | 2 |
| Burrillville | Step 1 | 1 |
| Chariho | Step 1 | 4 |
| Coventry | Step 1 | 3 |
| Cranston | Step 1 | 3 |
| East Providence | Step 1 | 1 |
| Exeter-West Greenwich | Step 1 | 35 |
| Glocester | Step 1 | 3 |
| Johnston | Step 1 | 1 |
| Lincoln | Step 1 | 1 |
| Little Compton | Step 1 | 1 |
| Narragansett | Step 1 | 2 |
| Newport | Step 1 | 2 |
| North Kingstown | Step 1 | 2 |
| North Providence | Step 1 | 1 |
| Pawtucket | Step 1 | 4 |
| Portsmouth | Step 1 | 2 |
| Providence | Step 1 | 1 |
| Scituate | Step 1 | 1 |
| Smithfield | Step 1 | 2 |
| South Kingstown | Step 1 | 2 |
| Warwick | Step 1 | 8 |
| West Warwick | Step 1 | 3 |
| Westerly | Step 1 | 3 |
| Woonsocket | Step 1 | 4 |
| Central Falls | Step 0 | 0 |
| Cumberland | Step 0 | 0 |
| East Greenwich | Step 0 | 0 |
| Foster | Step 0 | 0 |
| Foster-Glocester | Step 0 | 0 |
| Jamestown | Step 0 | 0 |
| Middletown | Step 0 | 0 |
| New Shoreham | Step 0 | 0 |
| North Smithfield | Step 0 | 0 |
| Tiverton | Step 0 | 0 |
