Source: http://rtce.org/StateofKentucky.html
Timestamp: 2018-10-21 10:00:29
Document Index: 757095670

Matched Legal Cases: ['§159', '§159', '§158', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§158', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§158']

Released Time Laws and Guidelines for the state of Kentucky
STATUTES: Kentucky Revised Statutes
The Kentucky compulsory attendance law (§159.010) requires that all children, ages 6-15 (inclusive), must attend a public school or a private, parochial "or church regular day school" (§159.030(1) (b)).
In §158.200, the Kentucky State Legislature has given the Boards of Education of independent and county school districts authority to provide for moral instruction in their jurisdiction as long as they follow the statutory guidelines § 15 8.2 1 0 to § 15 8.260. The Board of Education of each school district may authorize a complete survey of all the public school children in order to determine which children desire moral instruction (§158.210).
The Boards of Education, in addition, "shall fix one day each week" when students may be excused for "at least one hour" to attend moral instruction in accordance with their religious faith (§ 15 8.220). All students who receive permission and attend religious instruction each week will be credited with the time spent as if they had actually been in attendance at public school (§ 15 8.240). The Legislature warns that such moral instruction may only be given without expense to any Board of Education (§158.260).
Each local school board has the authority to excuse students under a released time program, subject to the guidelines set forth in the State Statutes.
CASES: Wooley v. Spalding 293 S.W. 2d 563 (1956)
In Wooley, the Court of Appeals of Kentucky upheld an injunction prohibiting a local school board from (1) expending public funds for religious or sectarian purposes (2) keeping sectarian periodicals in the school libraries (3) and stopping the operating of public school buses on religious holidays (Wooley, at 567). The Court emphasized that the U.S. Supreme Court guidelines concerning "Released Time" as set forth in Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306, and McCollum v. Board of Education, 333 U.S. 203, must be respected and followed in Kentucky public schools. Therefore, no public funds can be expended for promoting or providing religious moral instruction.
(1) OAG 61-508
The Church of the Good Shepherd could, on a released time basis, provide confirmation instruction of one hour each week in parish building s to students attending the public school system.
(2) OAG 63-937
(3) OAG 66-116
Whether students will actually be excused to receive moral instruction at a parochial school is discretionary with the Board o f Education.
(4) OAG 68-254
(5) OAG 75-0218
Sections KRS 158.200 to 158.260 do not authorize the releasing of pupils for moral instruction on any basis other than one hour per week, and thus a released on accumulated basis, though equivalent,
violates these sections.
(6) OAG 75-595
(7) OAG 75-643
Released Time organizations in the state of Kentucky
Weekday School of Religion
(606) 261-7907
Kentucky Released Time Bible Education Association
Director: John Lowder
(606) 528-9831
http://www.kyreleasedtime.org/
The first step is to gather as much information as you can about Kentucky's Released Time statute, what classes, if any, are being conducted, and how a Released Time program may address state educational objectives (e.g. self-esteem, values education). Determine who will make the decision whether to allow a program and make an appointment to see that person. If the principal refers you to the school board, you would be wise to meet individually with school board members before presenting the concept at a school board meeting.
It appears from the wording of the statute ("shall fix one day each week") that Kentucky school officials could be required to approve a program. FCRTM recommends, however, that you do not demand approval, but rather present a compelling case for a Released Time program. With a carefully crafted approach and with statutory recognition, you should expect success in gaining approval for the program.