5223 - RELEASED TIME FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

The School Board desires to cooperate with those parents who wish to provide for religious instruction for their children but also recognizes its responsibility to enforce the attendance requirements of the State.

Upon the signed written request of a student's parent, the Board will allow exceptions to the student's continuous attendance at school for religious instruction outside the school building for no more than 120 minutes per week if an elementary school student and for not more than the amount of time that is equivalent to attending one (1) elective course at the public secondary school during the week if a secondary school student. The religious instruction must be conducted by a church, association of churches, or an association that is organized for religious instruction and incorporated under Indiana law.

A student must be properly registered with an NAFCS Registration Form and a copy of such registration must be filed with the Principal.

A student who attends a school for religious instruction under the provisions of this policy shall receive the same attendance credit that the student would receive for attendance in the public school for the same length of time.

The time for release for religious instruction or education shall be arranged by the Principal. The Principal also will assure the appropriate continuance of the instructional program in the public school during such release times.

The entity that provides religious instruction to a Corporation student under this section agrees to do the following:

1. Conduct an expanded criminal history check and expanded child protection index check regarding each employee or contractor of the entity who is likely to have direct, ongoing contact with Corporation students who are children within the scope of the individual's employment or contract services.
    
2. Hold liability insurance coverage for services or transportation provided outside school property (as defined in I.C. 20-33-8-5).

 No staff member shall encourage or discourage participation in any religious instructional program, but this provision does not prevent authorized staff members from distributing information about available religious instructional programs on the same basis as information on other instructional programs is distributed.

Revised 3/9/20
Revised 11/18/24

© Neola 2025