Montana Code 20-1-308. Religious instruction released time program
20-1-308. Religious instruction released time program. (1) The trustees of a school district may provide for a religious instruction released time program under which a pupil may be released from regular school attendance for the purpose of receiving religious instruction upon written request, renewed at least annually, of the pupil’s parent or guardian. The trustees shall determine the amount of time for which a pupil may be released for religious instruction.
Terms Used In Montana Code 20-1-308
- district: means the territory, regardless of county boundaries, organized under the provisions of this title to provide public educational services under the jurisdiction of the trustees prescribed by this title. See Montana Code 20-6-101
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
- Pupil: means an individual who is admitted by the board of trustees pursuant to 20-5-101 and who is enrolled in a school established and maintained under the laws of the state at public expense. See Montana Code 20-1-101
- school: means an institution for the teaching of children that is established and maintained under the laws of the state of Montana at public expense. See Montana Code 20-6-501
- Trustees: means the governing board of a district. See Montana Code 20-1-101
(2)A religious instruction released time program may not be established or administered in such a way that public school property is utilized for the purpose of religious instruction.
(3)Public money may not be used, directly or indirectly, for the religious instruction.
(4)Any period for which a pupil is released under a religious instruction released time program is part of the school day and week for purposes of 20-1-301, 20-1-302, 20-5-103, 20-9-311, and all other provisions of Title 20, and the release may not adversely affect the pupil’s attendance record.