Through a released time program, LifeWise Academy works with public schools to integrate a Bible class into their weekly class schedule.
The atheist Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which conversely "educates on nontheism and promotes the constitutional principle of separating state and church," had sent a letter to discourage Ohio school boards from participating in the program, arguing that the off-campus classes disrupt school days.
Faith leaders from 116 congregations across the state responded by corresponding with more than 100 school boards in Wisconsin, where the FFRF is based and where students are likewise permitted to be dismissed for 1-3 hours per week for religious instruction.
"Parents have the right to dismiss their kids to anything they think is going to benefit their kids," notes Pastor John Bouquet of Bethel Baptist Church in Savannah, Ohio.
That could be anything from an orthodontist appointment to a Bible class.
With its Zorach v. Clauson ruling, the Supreme Court has protected LifeWise's plug-and-play model that allows students to be released during the school day to attend religious classes, provided the program is off school property, privately funded, and parent permitted.
"Most schools are very cooperative this way," the pastor relays. "Just like the Little League in the spring comes in and gives every kid an opportunity to sign up for Little League – no pressure. LifeWise does the same thing."
LifeWise Academy reportedly enrolls nearly 50,000 students from almost 600 public schools across more than 29 states. It has a strong presence in Ohio, with 337 school districts presently enrolled.
