rtparent

RELEASED TIME!

PARENT PERMISSION FOR RELEASED TIME EDUCATION

Student Name: _________________________________________________________
Parents' Names:_______________________________________Phone:____________
Address: _______________________________________________________________
School Name: __________________________________________________________
Homeroom Teacher: ____________________________________________________
Grade: ______ Age: ______ Home Church (if any):____________________________

School students have the option of attending Released Time Religious Education classes off school campus during the school day. Last year, over 250,000 students nationwide participated in Released Time. Our local school board has recently approved a pilot program for Released Time Education. Now, your children have the opportunity to attend religious classes at a church near the school for one class period once per week during the regular school day. Classes will be non-denominational and will have as their basis the teachings of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

1 Under the Establishment Clause, a Released Time program must take place off the school campus, so that public resources are not used in the promulgation of religion and to avoid the appearance of school or government support of religious practices.

2 Under the Free Exercise Clause, the school can accommodate religious instruction, if parental permission is given. This frees the school from legal responsibility during the Released Time program and waives the parents' right to file lawsuit against the school and Board of Education. During a student's participation in Released Time, liability is transferred to the church which sponsors the class. The church reserves the right to refuse participation by a student for discipline or truancy problems.

3. The Sullivan County School Board, nor Lynn View Middle School, is responsible for the content of Released Time classes. Lynn Garden Evangelical Presbyterian and the Released Time Steering Committee is responsible for choosing course material and for providing the teaching staff. Materials will be non- denominational. Students can bring their preferred translation of the Bible or a Bible can be provided for them in class.

4. The student is responsible for making up any work missed during class while away in Released Time. Released Time homework will not take the place of any homework given in the regular class period.

I, ____________________________________, the parent (guardian) of _________________________
request for my child to be released to attend Released Time Christian Education class at Lynn View Evangelical Presbyterian during the school day one time per week for a maximum time period of 90 minutes. This permission is granted until withdrawn. I understand that my child will be chaperoned to the church, located directly across the street, by church personnel from the school campus to the church property and back again.

Signed:______________________________________ Print Your Name: _______________________________

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED FORM TO: Lynn View Middle School, 257 Walker Street, Kingsport, TN 37665. If you have questions, please call 245-7646.

For further information or to sign up
please call: (423)378-4863
Tennessee Released Time Christian Education
P. O. Drawer 6
Kingsport, TN 37662

BETTER KIDS MAKE BETTER SCHOOLS!