Model RTRI Policy Announcement

Respect Public Schools - Washington is proud to showcase our Model Released Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI) Policy for use by Washington School Districts. It is a culmination of research, educator feedback, parental input, and hours and hours of work. We are grateful to have a team of dedicated community members who created a policy that prioritizes students and public education. 

This policy is built on a foundation and framework of the Secular Education Association’s model policy, different states’ legislation, as well as the US Supreme Court Case Zorach vs. Clauson and Washington Supreme Court Case Perry vs. District 81. (This model policy does not, however, purport to be legal advice).

Some important highlights: 

• Limited to students above the age of discernment. (Follows Idaho legislation.) Guardians and educators alike agree that participation in activities which impact their education should be empowered decisions made by students themselves. 

• Limited to just a few times during the school year. (Inspired by California legislation.) Public education remains the highest priority.

• Limited to the last class period of the day. (Follows New York City district policy.) This limits the amount of tracking and time required by staff, and severely cuts down on class disruption.

• School schedules will not be altered to accommodate RTRI Programs, and instruction must still take place for all students who do not leave to attend an RTRI Program. (Follows Perry vs. District 81 and Zorach vs. Clauson.)

• No spending of taxpayer dollars to promote RTRI Programs in public schools. (Follows Perry vs. District 81.) School districts remain neutral. 

• RTRI classes take place off-campus, and do not require taxpayer-funded transportation. (Follows Perry vs. District 81 and Zorach vs. Clauson.)

• RTRI Programs must follow district child safety protocols without exception. (This is especially important since the documented discovery of one RTRI Program - LifeWise Academy - losing two children in two different states, including Washington.)

• School Districts may not release medical information, or other sensitive and highly confidential information, about students to a third party. (HIPAA and FERPA prohibits such disclosure, whether or not parents sign a “release form” as part of enrollment in an RTRI Program.)

Our model RTRI policy places student safety and wellbeing as the highest priority, as well as supporting public education. We do not support targeting young children or placing them in vulnerable situations. We do not waiver on issues that threaten the neutral separation of church and state. 

We support parents and students exercising their lawful right to a religious education outside of public school hours, devoid of taxpayer funds, and without disruption to the administration and endeavor of public education. We encourage parents to exercise their lawful rights; we are firmly against organizations demanding taxpayer-funded facilitation of parent choice. 

We are sharing this policy with every school district in Washington state, but you can help! Talk to your local school board, submit the policy to them, the superintendent, and to your district’s policy review committee. Speak up to your state representatives. Urge them to seriously consider the threat of dismantling public schools by the orchestrated disruption of RTRI Programs; especially those designed to cause dissension among student peers, families, and our communities.