Congress Designates October 2025 as 'Religious Education Week,' Asks States to Accommodate Released-Time Classes

This resolution officially designates the week of October 5 through October 11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week." While it doesn’t change any federal laws, the core of the resolution is a strong affirmation that religious education is vital for developing citizens who are intellectually, ethically, and morally sound. It’s essentially Congress using its voice to celebrate the role of religious schools and programs in the U.S., backing it up with references to the First Amendment and historical Supreme Court rulings like Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), which affirmed parents’ rights to direct their children’s upbringing.

The Official Nod to Released-Time

The most practical element of this resolution involves public schools. The text specifically calls upon all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to "make space" for students who want to skip public school classes to attend religious instruction instead. This is a big thumbs-up to what are often called "released-time" programs, which Zorach v. Clauson (1952) confirmed are constitutional, provided the religious instruction happens off public school grounds. For parents who rely on this system—and the resolution notes about 540,000 public school students use these programs annually—this is a formal push for smoother accommodation.

What This Means for Your Kid’s Schedule

Since this is a resolution, not a law, it doesn't force states to do anything new; it just strongly encourages them to smooth out the administrative kinks. However, this is where things can get tricky for busy parents and school administrators. If your local school district already has a robust released-time program, you might not notice much change. But if your district is currently dragging its feet on setting up easy ways for students to leave for religious instruction, this resolution gives parents and religious groups more leverage to demand better accommodation.

The Administrative Load and Equity Question

For public school districts, this emphasis on accommodation could increase the administrative burden. Schools need to track which students are leaving, when they leave, and when they return, ensuring they aren’t disrupting essential instruction or compromising safety. While the resolution celebrates the benefits of religious education (citing studies on improved mental health and ethical development), the request for states to accommodate students leaving class raises an equity question. If a student leaves class for an hour of religious instruction, they are missing an hour of public school instruction—whether that’s math, history, or science. Districts will need clear policies to ensure that students participating in these programs don't fall behind their peers who remain in class, balancing the constitutional right to religious freedom with the right to a complete public education.