We were conÂtactÂed recentÂly by someÂone who lives in the Sylvania Public school disÂtrict. She said that LifeWise had a preÂsenÂtaÂtion schedÂuled for the next school board meetÂing and wantÂed to know if we had any inforÂmaÂtion about the group.
Released Time Religious Instruction is allowed under Ohio Revised Code 3313.6022. The big takeÂaway is that school disÂtricts aren’t required to adopt RTRI poliÂcies.
Other points from the law:
(1) The student’s parÂent or guardian gives writÂten conÂsent.
(2) The sponÂsorÂing entiÂty mainÂtains attenÂdance records and makes them availÂable to the school disÂtrict the stuÂdent attends.
(3) Transportation to and from the place of instrucÂtion, includÂing transÂportaÂtion for stuÂdents with disÂabilÂiÂties, is the comÂplete responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty of the sponÂsorÂing entiÂty, parÂent, guardian, or stuÂdent.
(4) The sponÂsorÂing entiÂty makes proÂviÂsions for and assumes liaÂbilÂiÂty for the stuÂdent.
(5) No pubÂlic funds are expendÂed and no pubÂlic school perÂsonÂnel are involved in proÂvidÂing the reliÂgious instrucÂtion.
(6) The stuÂdent assumes responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty for any missed schoolÂwork.
LifeWise Academy is a large reliÂgious group based in Columbus that works with local groups to install Bible classÂes in school disÂtricts. In 2022, LifeWise brought in over $6 milÂlion in donaÂtions, enrolls nearÂly 30,000 stuÂdents from more than 300 schools across more than 12 states. LifeWise has a strong presÂence in Ohio. LifeWise will be in more than 170 Ohio school disÂtricts by next school year — more than a quarÂter of the state’s school disÂtricts.
LifeWise only teachÂes Christianity and only hires Christians to be instrucÂtors and staff.
The othÂer issues we have is that chilÂdren are being removed from school grounds for an hour more by peoÂple who don’t work for the school disÂtrict and who the disÂtrict doesÂn’t vet. The classÂes have absoluteÂly no conÂnecÂtion to anyÂthing being taught in the pubÂlic school. It is basiÂcalÂly a Sunday school durÂing the week. LifeWise claims it is teachÂing charÂacÂter valÂues but you can learn those valÂues withÂout reliÂgion.
We have creÂatÂed a FAQ page about Released Time Religious Instruction with addiÂtionÂal inforÂmaÂtion about the classÂes and LifeWise.