{"id":1152,"date":"2026-06-03T22:05:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T22:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1152"},"modified":"2026-06-03T22:05:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T22:05:16","slug":"nc-may-require-schools-to-let-students-miss-class-for-religious-instruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1152","title":{"rendered":"NC may require schools to let students miss class for religious instruction"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

A state legislative committee has backed a bill that would allow North Carolina public school students to miss class to attend religious instruction during school hours.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Super dope\u2019 nominees announced for 2026 Stellar Upfront Awards in Charlotte<\/a><\/p>\n

Under Senate Bill 1006<\/a>, school districts and charter schools would be required to adopt a policy allowing students to be excused from class for at least one hour a week of religious instruction. The bill was amended and approved Wednesday by the state Senate Education Committee.<\/p>\n

\u201cA myriad of states have done what I\u2019m proposing to you today,\u201d said Sen. Brad Overcash, a Gaston County Republican and co-chair of the Senate Education Committee. \u201cStates from Vermont to New York to Florida and Tennessee and Texas, it really runs the gamut of political persuasions. These programs are important to help build the moral and religious character of our students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Provisions of Overcash\u2019s amendment include:<\/p>\n

\u201dIt is something that students would have to elect to do,\u201d Overcash told the committee. \u201cTheir parent or guardian would have to approve of this, and it doesn\u2019t cost our PSUs (public school units) any money. \u201c<\/p>\n

Republican lawmakers have been particularly receptive to reaching out to religious parents. Last year, GOP lawmakers passed a law that allows parents to pull their children out of classroom discussions<\/a> of topics that conflict with their religious beliefs.<\/p>\n

A similar bill was filed last year but has been stuck in committee. Under Senate Bill 92<\/a>, students would have been allowed to miss up to five hours a week for religious instruction. That bill would also allow schools to award elective credits to students who participate in the religious instruction time.<\/p>\n

The religious instruction provision comes as LifeWise Academy has been expanding operations in North Carolina. The Ohio-based nonprofit provides Bible education and character-focused classes to public school students during regular school hours.<\/p>\n

Read more Let\u2019s be clear about the value of an American Airlines hub in Charlotte | Opinion<\/a><\/p>\n

In Nash County, LifeWise says it served 232 students this school year<\/a> at three district elementary schools.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod is using LifeWise to impact the lives of students, parents, teachers, volunteers and churches,\u201d LifeWise said in a Facebook post Wednesday,<\/a><\/p>\n

LifeWise\u2019s expansion plans have sparked debate and opposition from some groups.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis program presents many problematic issues particularly related to religious freedom and the separation of church and state,\u201d Pastors for NC Children and People of Faith for Public School said in an online statemen<\/a>t opposing LifeWise\u2019s expansion.<\/p>\n

The religious instruction provision is part of a much larger bill that includes multiple education provisions. Items include:<\/p>\n

This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 3:20 PM<\/span> with the headline “NC may require schools to let students miss class for religious instruction.” <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Senate Bill 1006 would mandate NC public schools adopt policies allowing one hour a week of released time for private religious instruction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nNC may require schools to let students miss class for religious instruction - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=1152\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC may require schools to let students miss class for religious instruction - 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