Ohio Educators, Parents and Religious Leaders Testify Against Religious Release Time Bill
Source: https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/
Over 150 people submitted testimony opposing a bill that would require school districts to allow students to leave school for religious instruction. Opponents argued that such programs disrupt the school day, create divisions between participating and non-participating students, and infringe on religious freedom. Rev. Vicki Zust, rector of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, expressed concern about the impact on children who choose not to participate in these religious release time programs.
During last week’s Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee meeting, three opponents testified against a bill that would allow students to leave school for religious instruction. Committee chair Gayle Manning had to remind attendees to remain silent during the testimony, urging respect for the process.
The opponents specifically addressed concerns about LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based Christian program that operates in 169 Ohio school districts and enrolls 50,000 students across 29 states. LifeWise is a non-denominational program that teaches the Bible during school hours. Christina Collins, executive director of Honesty for Ohio Education, argued that the bill is not about religious pluralism, but rather about promoting a particular Christian nationalist agenda, citing the program’s significant financial backing and influence.
Ohio law currently allows school boards to adopt policies permitting students to attend religious instruction during school hours, but a new set of companion bills seeks to make this requirement mandatory. The bills would change the language in the Ohio Revised Code from “may” to “shall,” compelling school districts to create a religious release time policy. House Bill 445 was introduced earlier this year by state Reps. Gary Click and Al Cutrona, who is now a state senator. Senate Bill 293, introduced this summer, was sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds.
State Senator Al Cutrona, during a Senate Education Committee meeting, argued that his bill would be the easiest legislation to pass, as it only requires changing one word in the law from “may” to “shall.” This change would require school districts to adopt a policy for religious release time programs, making participation a decision for parents, not school boards.
Opponents of religious release time programs, particularly LifeWise Academy, have raised concerns about the impact on students and families. Jaclyn Fraley, a mother in Westerville Schools, questioned the practicality of the program, citing challenges in organizing younger students and experiences of exclusion for those not participating. She shared stories of children being marginalized or subjected to harmful comments, such as being told they were “going to hell” for being part of LGBTQIA families or not being “real” Christians. In some districts, like Defiance Schools, students who don’t attend LifeWise are called “LifeWise leftovers” and sent to study hall.
Rev. Vicki Zust, who also opposes the program, expressed concerns about the hostile environment created for children whose parents choose not to participate, particularly those from different faiths. She argued that this violates First Amendment and educational rights. Critics, like Fraley, also suggested that religious education should take place outside school hours, through parental involvement in church or religious institutions.
There were additional concerns raised about how the program accommodates students with special needs or religious requirements. State Rep. Jodi Whitted asked how such programs support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and Christina Collins from Honesty for Ohio Education explained that LifeWise, being off-campus, does not have access to IEPs or the resources to meet those students’ needs.
State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio raised the issue of students with fixed prayer times, to which Collins replied that students simply leave to pray and return, without the benefits of a fully supported educational environment. He noted that his office had received nearly 200 emails opposing House Bill 445, and fewer than 20 in support of it.
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