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Is teaching the Bible during the school day really legal? A: Yes! The concept of released time religious instruction has been upheld multiple times at the U.S. Supreme Court. Released time guidelines both guard against government establishment of any one religion and allow expression of the right to the “free exercise of religion,” also protected by the First Amendment. Read the McGuireWoods legal opinion letter on the constitutionality of LifeWise Academy. How is this legal? Aren’t students not allowed to talk about religion at school? A: Released time religious instruction (RTRI) creates an incredible opportunity for public school students to receive valuable religious and spiritual education during the existing hours provided by their school day. The Supreme Court ruling (Zorach v. Clauson, 1952) makes it both constitutional and legal for communities across the country to establish religious programs like LifeWise Academy that meet the three conditions outlined by the ruling: the programs are off school property, privately funded and parent permitted. A student’s expressions of faith are safeguarded by the First Amendment, ensuring their right to free speech and the free exercise of religion, as long as these expressions don’t disrupt class or infringe on other students’ rights. Released time guidelines strike a perfect balance, preventing government endorsement of any single religion while upholding our cherished right to freely practice our faith. Is LifeWise exploiting the law? Isn’t the law outdated? A: This isn’t a fringe idea or loophole in the law; released time programs have a well-established history across the nation. More than half of the states in the U.S. have embraced released time laws, which speaks to their importance and widespread acceptance. These programs allow students to explore their faith during school hours, all within a legal framework that’s as solid as it is respectful of our nation’s values. It’s a testament to our society’s deep commitment to religious freedom, allowing students to engage in religious education in a way that’s both constitutionally sound and in keeping with our American ideals. For over 70 years, this released time opportunity has been utilized on a small scale. LifeWise provides a replicable model that can be implemented by any community nationwide. A benefit of released time opportunities like LifeWise Academy is that everyone is welcome, but the program is entirely optional for families. Parents make the ultimate decision to enroll, or not to enroll, their student in a LifeWise program. The Supreme Court endorsed released time because they recognized religious instruction as a cherished priority for many Americans, affirming their right to pursue it. Is LifeWise Academy a political movement? A: No, LifeWise is not affiliated with or supportive of any particular political party or figure. LifeWise is for all families regardless of political persuasion. Why should students, even those without a Christian background, learn about the Bible? A: LifeWise Academy recognizes that the Bible was foundational to the forming of our society. We believe all students, regardless of religious background, can benefit from a greater understanding of such an influential book. What’s the history of LifeWise? A: LifeWise Academy was founded in 2018 as a division of Stand For Truth, an event-based nonprofit ministry with a mission to reach public school students. The creation of LifeWise was inspired by a released time program in Van Wert, OH, which boasts a 95% participation rate among public elementary school students. Stand For Truth and the Van Wert released time program teamed up to create LifeWise Academy, launching the first two LifeWise programs in the fall of 2019. LifeWise Academy now serves more than 150 school districts nationwide. How does LifeWise compare with before and after-school programs? A: LifeWise is complementary to existing before and after-school programs. The primary distinctive feature of LifeWise is that it operates during the school day, thereby engaging the students who are most unlikely to attend before and after-school programs due to transportation, extracurricular and other issues. How is LifeWise different from other released time programs? A: LifeWise offers a structured, “plug-n-play” model which provides communities all the tools to launch and maintain an effective program while limiting administrative duties. The proven model also lends credibility to school administrators, parents, donors and volunteers. Learn about how LifeWise relates to and works with existing released time programs.
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