The Board of Education 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.

Accordingly, the Board should develop a policy in conformance with its other policies on excused and unexcused absences from classroom instruction which policy is not discriminatory in any manner and which maintains the integrity of the school’s instructional programs.

Upon the signed 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 by an authorized church or religious organization when such exception is consistent with other policy and neither discriminates against nor favors any particular religious practice.

A student seeking such exception must be properly registered and a copy of such registration must be filed with the principal.

The time for release for religious instruction or education shall be arranged by the principal. S/He will also assure the appropriate continuance of the instructional program in the public school during such release times, consistent with other Board policy.

No solicitation for attendance at religious instruction shall be permitted on school system premises. No staff member shall encourage or discourage participation in any religious instructional program.