State of
Missouri

Released Time Laws and Guidelines for the state of Missouri


STATUTES: ANNOTATED MISSOURI STATUTES

Missouri compulsory attendance law (§167.031) requires that all children, ages 715 (inclusive), must attend "regularly some day school, public, private, parochial or parish" for the entire school term of the public schools

Section 171.011 empowers the school board of each school district to make "needful rules and regulations" for the organization, grading, and governing of the school district. Therefore, it is permissible for a local school board to establish rules governing a Released Time program as long as it remains within the Constitutional limitations of the First Amendment.

EDUCATION REGULATIONS: (Policy) None

CASES: None

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS: None

Released Time organizations in the state of Missouri

Intervention Ministries
Bolivar
(417) 326-7352

Released Time Pleasantville
Pleasantville Baptist Church
Salem


FCRTM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Like your state, many do not have specific laws or guidelines concerning Released Time. The absence of a specific law does not necessarily prohibit Released Time programs. In fact, it may allow a wider range of Released Time programs. For example, it is possible to offer Released Time classes as an off-campus elective class on the High School or Junior High level, which students take daily. This is being done in states such as Georgia, Florida, Utah, Arizona, and Idaho.

The particular challenge in your state is that in the absence of a specific statute, you will need to conduct research into the legal background of Released Time at the federal level (FCRTM can help!), and how decisions are made within your school system. The majority of school districts would require approval at the school board level, but many are moving to "site-based management,' which would perhaps allow individual school principals to approve a Released Time program. Once your research is complete, you will need to approach the appropriate decision-maker(s) with a proposal for a Released Time class.

Even with the Supreme Court decision of 1952 (Zorach vs. Clauson), we must remember that approval for a Released Time program is a privilege, not a right. School principals and school boards may accommodate a Released time program, but they are not required to do so. Experience teaches us that a carefully crafted approach, coupled with a positive relationship with school officials will usually open the doors for a Released Time program.


Information provided by:

The Fellowship of Christian Released Time Ministries

5722 Lime Ave. ˜ Long Beach, CA 90805

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