In January of 1955, approximately 150 enthusiastic delegates from 46 area churches responded to an invitation by the Cass County Ministerial Association to join with the Advisory Board who was meeting for the purpose of organizing Weekday Religious Education of Logansport and Cass County, Inc. The Board elected officers and additional members were added to the Executive Committee. Other committees
were also set up and a constitution was written and accepted by the March Board Meeting. Work began to obtain permission from each county school trustee and the city school board for a time released program for fourth grade students. This program began in the fall of 1956 with 695 pupils in 33 classes from 19 schools. The cost of the entire program was underwritten by 52 participating churches who pledged the yearly total of $8,000. operates within the “Released-Time” guidelines. The released-time movement was inaugurated in Gary, Indiana, in 1914. The Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Wirt, initiated a plan where children would be released to attend religious classes off-campus. That first year, 619 students left the public schools to attend classes in churches during one period a week. This program (first accepted in Indiana) has now become an accepted practice throughout the United States. Released-time has also been supported by the 1948 and 1952 Supreme Court rulings, which recognize the rights of parents to direct the religious education of their children and permits released-time religious education to be conducted during the school day. In order to remain legal and within the "released-time guidelines," W.R.E. classes must be held off a school's campus, receive written permission from a parent or guardian for each child to attend, and cannot receive funds from the school or tax dollars.
