Board reviews policy revision to allow excused release time for religious instruction under new state law
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Summary
First reading of revised policy 52.23 implements state law allowing excused release time for religious instruction during the school day with limits and return-of-materials rules; the policy references House Bill 8 and district policy 9700 on material distribution.
The board conducted a first reading of a revised Policy 52.23 on Sept. 8 to comply with state changes requiring public school districts to allow release time for religious instruction. Mr. Reeves explained the update and said the district revised policy language following House Bill 8, which took effect April 9, 2025, and additions in the summer budget bill.
Under the revised policy Reeves summarized, participating students’ absences for release time will be excused and the district will allow release for up to one class period per week, excluding core curriculum. The policy defines core curriculum as graded curriculum aligned with state-approved standards and allows students returning from release time to bring program materials back to school; distribution of those materials is governed by Policy 9700 and requires superintendent review and permission if an outside organization seeks to distribute literature on district property.
Reeves said district staff had met with Lifewise leadership to coordinate processes for the school year. A board member asked whether the state defines a qualifying sponsoring entity; Reeves said the state provides qualifying language and offered to provide the board with the statutory language that defines a bona fide religious institution for release-time purposes. The item was a first reading; no vote was taken.