Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 20. EDUCATION

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Part 3. School Terms and Holidays -- Released Time

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.

(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.

History: En. 75-7403.1 by Sec. 2, Ch. 130, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 75-7403.1; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 84, L. 2001.