Today
There are approximately 1,000 released time programs in operation today, ranging from kindergarten to high school, with 250,000 students enrolled. In some areas, including most public school districts in the state of Utah, released time programs allow students a daily class period which may be used for extracurricular religious studies.
A multi-denominational Christian organization that supports Released Time Bible Education across the country is School Ministries, Inc. (SMI). It was created in 1990 to act as an association that assists local communities in the creation of Released Time Bible Education and to provide support for existing programs. Although initially envisioned to have a South Carolina focus, SMI soon was undertaking a national role in responding to RTBE interests, addressing legal challenges, raising national visibility and addressing research needs. Since 2003, SMI has experienced an annual growth rate of 10% in students served. (See School Ministries, Inc. )
One notable large group taking released time for religious instruction are LDS students. Most LDS students in ninth through twelfth grade attend weekday religious classes called Seminary. In the Western United States, such as in Idaho and Utah, it is common to find an LDS seminary building within close walking distance of public high schools, sometimes directly adjacent. In such situations the LDS students will take one class period off from the public school as released time. The large numbers taking released time means the seminary has up to six or seven periods corresponding to the public school class periods.
New York City also participates in Released time. Many organizations take advantage, notably, the Jewish Education Program and the Jewish Released Time Program of Greater New York
Supporters of released time programs interpret the various court cases as permitting these programs, provided several guidelines are met. These conditions are
- Classes must not be held on public school property,
- Religious instruction may not be financed by public funds,
- Students must have parental permission to be released from public school for the purpose of attending religious instruction.
Read more about this topic: Released Time
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