First Liberty recently defended a pastor in Tempe, Arizona, who confessed to sexual abuse of a minor. First Liberty argued that the pastor’s confession is inadmissible in court because he was speaking to another pastor. First Liberty stepped up, defended this logic, and tried to keep the confession out of court. First Liberty defended a pastor who confessed to molesting a child. Again, First Liberty defended a pastor who confessed to molesting a child.

First Liberty also argued against legislation in Washington that would require religious leaders always to report abuse of minors, even if told during a religious confession. First Liberty argued against this law to protect abused children. First Liberty Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys defended the right to protect child abusers, but is also suing the public schools in Everett, Washington, on behalf of Lifewise Academy.

First Liberty has advertised and marketed for Lifewise numerous times.

Off School Property: Solving the Separation of Church and State
https://youtu.be/ITOhqwiJee8?si=82-k0DSytkVhUdQl

Who Opposes Kids Bible Classes
https://youtu.be/cb0syT1mPT8?si=jIgmPxV6lJK-Naep

Holly Randall Discusses a Washington State Court That Is Targeting a Christian Ministry
https://youtu.be/2wBN4ohcoFM?si=EDv5OeVK5jYlMZjJ

Defending LifeWise Academy
https://youtube.com/shorts/Er9dT8J3JFE?si=xefgGXZJE6tDYwk3

Win for LifeWise Academy
https://youtube.com/shorts/7mAoSFvcvw8?si=XhRGev7vOHoleG_K

Lifewise Academy says child safety is its highest priority. Aligning with a law firm that has used religious freedom as a screen for child abuse does not protect children. Lifewise has lost children, hired a teacher who was fired for sending sexual messages to a student, and looked to open a class in a chemical factory that employed registered sex offenders. Lifewise cares about one thing. Making money. The safety of children takes a backseat to expanding its ministry.

Learn more about Lifewise Academy and released time religious instruction at https://respectpublicschools.com/

Screenshot and link to the full agreement.

Imagine Ministries Agreements

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Imagine Ministries is presented as a released time religious instruction (RTRI) program. It is a member of School Ministries Ohio (SMO), an organization that assists in starting and operating released time programs. SMO has been in operation since 2007 and is a member of the national School Ministries organization. Both organizations are focused on the mission of inserting RTRI programs into public schools. RTRI has clear legal guidelines set by the courts and Ohio state law. One of those guidelines is that the programs cannot operate on school district property. The School Ministries website clearly states this as well.

Ohio statute 3313.6022 states

“released time” means a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off school district property.

The Imagine Ministries agreement indicates that the classes will be held in the library on school property every Monday.

Imagine Ministries is a member of School Ministries Ohio and uses it as a resource. When an individual who was not a United States citizen requested to volunteer for the ministry located in the school, School Ministries Ohio suggested that they check in as a visitor and not undergo a background check.

There is an argument that a visa requires a background check. While this is true, you can enter the country even with infractions that would disqualify an individual from volunteering in public schools. Waivers can be granted for infractions that would bar an employee or volunteer from a public school. When given two options, allowing an individual to volunteer at the school with or without a criminal background check, the school and the ministry chose no background check.

The school district has a policy that requires volunteers to be screened. The ministry operates on school property. The individuals are in the school building. The school is aiding a religious organization. The school district's policies are clear about how religion should be handled in the school.

8800 - RELIGIOUS/PATRIOTIC CEREMONIES AND OBSERVANCES

Decisions of the United States Supreme Court have made it clear that it is not the province of a public school to advance or inhibit religious beliefs or practices. Under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution, this remains the inviolate province of the individual and the church of his/her choice. The rights of any minority, no matter how small, must be protected. No matter how well intended, either official or unofficial sponsorship of religiously-oriented activities by the school are offensive to some and tend to supplant activities which should be the exclusive province of individual religious groups, churches, private organizations, or the family.

8120 - VOLUNTEERS

If a criminal records check indicates that a volunteer has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the offenses listed below and/or described in R.C. 109.572 (A)(1), the volunteer will be informed either that the Board is no longer interested in maintaining their volunteer service or that the volunteer will be assigned to duties for which they will not work unsupervised with children.

5223 - RELEASED TIME FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

The Board of Education desires to cooperate with those parents who wish to provide for religious instruction for their children but also recognizes its responsibility to enforce the attendance requirements of the State.

Students shall be provided “released time” during the school day to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off District property.

7510 - USE OF DISTRICT PREMISES

community organizations or groups of individuals primarily comprised of District residents/members of the community, including students (during non-school hours) and employees (when not working in the scope of their employment) formed or gathered for

1. charitable,
2. civic,
3. social,
4. religious,

There are concerns about religious organizations using the school for advertising. Imagine Ministries asked to pass out flyers and set up at the open house before school started. RTRI organizations, such as Imagine Ministries, are supposed to follow the Supreme Court's Zorach v. Clauson (1952) decision. The School Ministries website also states this.

Zorach v. Clauson highlighted the rules of the released time program that it ruled legal. One of those rules was “No announcements of any kind.”

Emails indicate that Imagine Ministries passed out flyers at the school and also attended the open house events.

Conotton Valley District has policies that specifically prohibit proselytizing by religious groups. The wording of the email is clear, “Thank you for the opportunity to plant seeds in the young lives of your students.” This is proselytizing.

9700.01 - ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

The following guidelines shall be followed with respect to any form of advertising on school grounds or school property, including the District's website:

E. No advertisement shall promote any specific religion or religious, ethnic or racial group, political candidate or ballot issue, and shall be non-proselytizing.

The school board policies also prohibit the district from “respecting or promoting an establishment of religion.”

2240 - CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

The Board acknowledges that it may not adopt any policy or rule respecting or promoting an establishment of religion or prohibiting any student from the free, individual, and voluntary exercise or expression of the student's religious beliefs.

The superintendent entered into an agreement with a ministry to allow religious classes and prayer in the school building during school hours. The superintendent also allowed students who participate in the religious program to be at the start of the line, creating a rule that allows Christian children to get their lunch first.

The Conotton Valley district, Imagibe Ministries, and School Ministries have coordinated to create an environment in which a Christian ministry can operate within the public schools and receive special treatment. The list of violations is long. The district would be wise to review its own policies.

Lifewise Academy allows volunteers to drive students without a background check, training, or regular onboarding, provided it’s a one-time occurrence. The “LifeWise Vehicle Driver Screening” form states, “Any driver who will be transporting LifeWise students more than once must apply as a LifeWise driver and complete the onboarding process.” The form asks about driving history, moving violations, driving while intoxicated, and related matters. However, if the individual will drive only once, they don’t have to complete the form and won’t be subject to a criminal background check or a driving record report.

The scenario of an individual coming to Lifewise and being allowed to drive the very next day isn’t hypothetical. Lifewise Academy Southern Local (Ohio) posted that classes would be canceled unless a driver was found. Three days later, they announced that classes would be held.

These two public messages should make everyone pause. From Sunday, March 29, 2026, to Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Lifewise found a driver, completed the background check, trained, and fully onboarded in two days. This event occurred in the Southern Local District (Corning, OH). The district’s policy for released-time religious instruction (RTRI) mandates that Lifewise volunteers be verified to the same standard as district employees. This would mean an Ohio BCI/FBI fingerprint background check was completed and returned within 48 hours. It may be that Lifewise did not conduct a fingerprint check and instead used its ADP system. But that would not be the same check as for district employees.

Lifewise Academy says student safety is its highest priority. Yet the company created a form that allows anyone to drive students once, with no background check or driving record verification. Creating loopholes in your own safety policies means you have no safety policies. You can’t use a dartboard to decide when and which safety policies to follow.

Lifewise hired a director whose teaching license had been permanently revoked. They did not check her employment history or credentials. Lifewise has a policy that two adults be present with students at all times. Yet a young child was left alone in a church after using the bathroom. The bus returned to the school, and the child walked half a mile back by themselves. Lifewise Oklahoma State Director said people with past infractions that would stop them from serving at Lifewise are “clear” if they have gone through the courts. Three Lifewise personnel in Ohio were found to be abusive to children.

In this video, Jim Brown, the Oklahoma State Director, can’t remember which background check company Lifewise uses. It’s important to them, though. The program Lifewise used at the time of this video was ProScreening, not Protect My Ministry. But to his credit, Lifewise has switched it three times in less than three years. They also have never adopted a standard BCI/FBI background check. The point of the video is that Jim said they will forgive people once their case is complete. There are stupid statements, and then there is this. He says that people can be “clear” to work with children once their case is closed. That’s not how child safety procedures and background checks work for any program that involves children.

Safety policies mean nothing when you don’t implement them, and they also mean nothing when you have loopholes that allow people to bypass them.

The driver screening form can be seen at: https://lifewise.tfaforms.net/15
I expect Lifewise to make the form private after this article publishes. This won’t fix the issue. It will hide the fact that it exists. Do not trust Lifewise Academy.

Lifewise Academy describes itself as a grass-roots initiative to bring the bible into local public schools. The initial step of opening a Lifewise franchise in a school district is to gather 50 signatures from local individuals who wish to see the program operate in the local schools. Lifewise will sometimes use the line “if you live, work, or worship” in a school district; you should sign the list. The Lifewise website no longer has this language.

There has never been any requirement for Lifewise to gather signatures. No laws or policies. It was simply a way to rally local support, give a simple task to local individuals, and gauge the return on investment in an area. According to Lifewise documentation, when the 50-signature mark is met, Lifewise will engage its resources from the corporate office to start working wth local individuals and walk through the rest of the 10-step process to launch Lifewise in the school district.

But in practice, Lifewise does not wait for the 50 signatures before initiating the process of creating and launching a program. Emails from Lifewise corporate prove the signature requirements are not a required rule.

The theory behind the signature lists is to prove local community support for removing studnets from classes and forcing schools to coordinate with a ministry. Oftentimes the lists are provided to the local Board of Education to help with the narrative that the community is behind the program. Lifewise will suggest people sign other communities’ lists to get to the 50 mark even though there is no official requirement.

The CEO of Lifewise says anyone with a pulse should sign the list. They pulled the numbers out of thin air.

The number of signatures in support of Lifewise for a school district should not be used in any way as a gauge of the program's status. There are dozens of programs that have launched with fewer than 50 signatures. It only takes a couple of people with enough ambition and money to start the process. Many programs launch and only serve a single child.

If you or your organization is using the signature count as a way to gauge the status of the effort to bring Lifewise into a district, you should assume the process is further along than stated. Providing facts about Lifewise, the state laws, and school policy requirements are the best ways to start educating the district and public about Lifewise.

A few days later, an interview with Lifewise Academy COO Steve Clifton was posted on YouTube. Clifton referred to public schools as “dark places” and said, “the lights aren’t on.” 90% of students attend public schools. If an interview with the COO can’t be posted in the group, that is all you need to know about Lifewise. The Lifewise State Director had to make the post, indicating they anticipated people saying unkind things about public schools. The majority of churchgoers also attend public schools. Speaking badly about the schools is speaking badly about the teachers and staff who run them. These are the same people who attend churches. Lifewise CEO Joel Penton joked about abolishing public schools. From the top down, Lifewise views public schools as harmful.

Never mind that Lifewise has hired staff who were later convicted of abusing minors. Lifewise serves 62,000 students out of the 50+ million in the country, 0.1% of students, yet it still acts like public schools are a scourge on society. Lifewise fought in court to block the release of documents indicating Lifewise completed full background checks on staff. The hypocrisy at Lifewise is thick.

Lifewise is using the public schools, not helping them.

Lifewise New London started operating in September 2021. It was one of the very first Lifewise Academy programs in the nation. It was also the first program to have classes for grades K-12, along with for-credit classes in the high school. Initially, students were transported off school property using buses. They used the school district buses when it initially started in defiance of Ohio State laws.

The New London Faith Group was formed in 2022 as a nonprofit to oversee and own the project to build a permanent classroom across from the school. Land was donated, and fundraising began. Construction began in August of 2023. The building was completed in August 2024, and classes began in the new building shortly after.

Two years after the building opened for Lifewise Academy classes, the faith group chose to drop Lifewise and partner with School Ministries Ohio, a local chapter of the national School Ministries organization. School Ministries shares Lifewise Academy's mission to put the Bible into public schools.

School Ministries has a different method for starting local programs. They provide guidance on the requirements a local program must meet, but they let the local program choose how each item will be implemented. For example, Lifewise Academy charges per-student fees to cover costs such as curriculum, worksheets, insurance, payroll, and signage. School Ministries allows local programs to choose the curriculum, insurance companies, and any other vendor’s services they wish. This keeps more money with local companies and gives the local program more control. In New London, ff the total budget for the local Lifewise program, nearly 50% went back to the corporate office through franchise fees, goods, and services. This is a steep tax imposed on local communities.

Several people connected with the New London Faith Group said the main reasons for dropping Lifewise Academy were a desire for more control and to retain more funds locally. Some individuals served on both the New London Faith Group and Lifewise Academy boards. Local stakeholders felt that Lifewise's corporate leadership did not always prioritize their best interests.

Allen East Lifewise Academy

A building constructed for Allen East Lifewise Academy under the local nonprofit ACTS Character Academy has installed a new sign along the highway the building sits on, and it does not mention Lifewise Academy. When construction started, a temporary sign read “Future Home of Lifewise Allen East.” The newly installed sign reads “Impact Center.” These two events, at some of Lifewise Academy’s earliest programs, might be a sign of the struggles Lifewise Academy corporate puts on local groups.

Who is School Ministries Ohio?

School Ministries Ohio is not new to released time religious instruction programs. The original program in Van Wert, Ohio, that inspired Lifewise Academy was launched in cooperation with School Ministries Ohio. After Lifewise was formed, the Van Wert program dropped ties with School Ministries Ohio in 2019.

School Ministries Ohio was instrumental in the passing of the initial released time law in Ohio. Representative Jeff McClain (R-Upper Sandusky), who is also on the board for School Ministries Ohio, sponsored and pushed for the legislation to create a legal framework for released time in Ohio in 2013. The legislation also allowed students to receive high school credit for bible classes.

School Ministries has over 50,000 students enrolled nationally, compared with Lifewise’s 60,000. School Ministries aims to reach 250,000 students by 2030. Poaching programs from Lifewise would be the easiest path to that goal. School Ministries recently moved its headquarters from South Carolina to Ohio. Similar to churches “planting” new buildings in thriving areas, School Ministries may be positioning itself in this area to attract programs that want the same things as New London. Separating from Lifewise Academy offers more control and reduces the drain on the local organization’s resources.

Ohio Connections to Released Time

How did the two largest released time organizations in the country become headquartered in Ohio? It was not dumb luck. School Ministries Ohio (SMO) has been working with ultraconservative right-wing organizations to lobby for legislation and create legal challenges to the idea that religion and public schools should be kept separate for over a decade. The Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) has also championed this fight to mix religion and public schools. When Lifewise Academy began to receive pushback from the school administration, CCV was there to lead lobbying efforts to change Ohio law and require districts to coordinate with Lifewise.

The new National Executive Director for School Ministries is Robert Kilo. Before joining School Ministries, Kilo was the Senior Director of Advancement for CCV. After hiring Kilo, School Ministries moved its headquarters to Ohio. There is a coordinated effort to force religion into public schools. School Ministries has received legal opinions from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) supporting the inclusion of Bible classes in public schools during the school day. Many school districts have used these legal opinions to validate Bible classes in schools during the school day with assistance from School Ministries.

All of these groups are trying to implement Bible classes IN public schools, not off school property.

Filings with the Board of Zoning show a lockable gate would be installed at the public access point into the Lifewise Academy parking lot. During the meeting, Steve Clifton, Lifewise COO, stated that the fence would be installed to prevent cars from driving through the parking lot and to deter public harassment.

“By nature of the things that we do, we attract some people that don’t necessarily like us, that may want to vandalize the building.”

Steve Clifton, Lifewise Academy COO

Clifton also stated that “one arrest was actually made.” This is a 100% false statement. No arrests were ever made. No person was ever charged. Public records show one person drove through the property and yelled “obscenities” and left. The individual met with Hilliard Police to receive a written warning. No laws were broken. Lifewise Academy never asked the individual to leave.

The police report was filed by Matthew Maruster, who writes for concealedcarry.com and has appeared on their podcast several times to discuss legal homicides. Maruster lists his position with Lifewise Academy as “Team Player”. Lifewise has had several police reports for suspicious vehicles at the property. One was an individual who shouted something, one person was dumpster diving, and the final one was an employee who had an access card for the building. These are the only reports provided by the Hilliard Police Department for the last 18 months.

The zoning request states that the gate would be locked only during night hours. This process would do nothing to stop the only police report that describes an action directed at Lifewise. Having the gate unlocked during the day would not stop someone from yelling at the building while employees are there. A member of the zoning board spoke against the gate, saying it does little to stop vandalism and that allowing cars to come along the building would capture more evidence on camera.

The picture Lifewise submitted to the zoning board, compared with what will be installed, remains to be seen. The building permit was approved July 24, 2026. Time will tell.

Lifewise Academy describes itself as coming alongside schools as a supportive ally. Does Lifewise need to keep the public away from its building because of the “support” it is offering?

Lifewise Academy has sued Everett Public Schools in Washington state for what it calls unfair treatment by the district. Everett Public Schools requires parents to submit a slip each week for their children to attend released time classes. Lifewise argues that other clubs or activities do not require parents to sign a permission slip every week. Lifewise is not a school-endorsed club or activity. It occurs off of school property, with staff the school cannot oversee, and at locations the school cannot choose or monitor. This is not the same as any other group. In fact, Lifewise does not name any similar groups that remove studnets under RTRI laws from school for an unrecorded absence.

Lifewise v. Everett Public Schools

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Lifewise states that the requirement of a weekly permission slip is an “unreasonable barrier to participation.” This requirement is not new, though. Pennsylvania law requires parents to send a note to the district every week stating the date, hours, and that the student is in attendance. If this process is not followed, the student is not permitted to be released from school.

“and that the parent or person in loco parentis shall, following each such absence, furnish in writing to the superintendent of the school district a statement attesting that the child did in fact attend the instruction and the dates and hours upon which such attendance took place.”

Section 1546 of the Pennsylvania School Code

Lifewise Academy operates in seven districts in Pennsylvania and has an additional 17 programs in the start-up phase. Lifewise has not objected to Pennsylvania’s state law. The same policy in Washington led to a lawsuit. In recent interviews, Joel Penton, Lifewise CEO, has stated that the permission slip process has “shut down interest” in the program.

School districts in Pennsylvania should expect to be sued by Lifewise Academy if they follow the law and require parents to submit a note for each Lifewise class their children attend. The other likely scenario is Lifewise lobbying the Pennsylvania legislature to change the law to benefit itself and reduce parental requirements. If Lifewise Academy is targeting your school district, inform your Board of Education and ensure the board policies are in place and well-defined. Respect Public Schools has a template policy available.

No specific reason was given for the sudden change. But I’ll beat a dead horse and tell you the reason is that Lifewise Academy, the City, and the School District violated the Federal Supreme Court rulings and Indiana law governing how released time religious programs may operate.

A quick reminder on the legal rulings for released time religious instruction. There are only a few, and they are usually very easy to understand. Zorach v. Clauson is the most frequently cited Supreme Court case regarding released time, and Indiana has a state law that defines how released time must operate. Lifewise lobbied for changes to the state law and was present when the Governor signed the bill. The fact that Lifewise didn’t know they were breaking the law is comical.

“The program involves neither religious instruction in public schools nor the expenditure of public funds.”
Zorach v. Clauson (1952)

“not be supported, in whole or in part, by public funds.”
Indiana Statute 20-33-2-19

The project to construct a Lifewise building on property owned by the City of Woodburn, Indiana, began as early as December 2023. For two and a half years, the City and Lifewise Academy coordinated efforts to construct a classroom on public property. Meetings discussing contracts, passing resolutions, permits, plans, etc…

Construction started on June 24, 2026. Lifewise Academy East Allen County posted photos of the work starting. The post has since been removed from Facebook. During a City Council meeting on July 6, 2026, the council voted not to discuss the project. Two and a half years of work, thousands of dollars spent, and now they can’t discuss the project. All because I started asking questions.

Lifewise Academy has teams of lawyers. Local representation, First Liberty Institute, and the Alliance for Defending Freedom have all provided legal support to Lifewise. Thousands of dollars in local donations have been used for the Woodburn project. The project had a $40,000 budget according to the plans submitted to the county. Lifewise Academy takes a portion of all donations. The corporation has already received its cut of the money. If the project fails, it does not impact the national office.

Released time programs have been ruled legal. Lifewise beats the drum that the programs are legal as long as three rules are followed. 1. Off school property. 2. Privately funded. 3. Parent approved. Lifewise fails to educate the public and, clearly, its own staff, about what the Supreme Court ruled.

“The government must be neutral when it comes to competition between sects….
… We sponsor an attitude on the part of government that shows no partiality to any one group and that lets each flourish according to the zeal of its adherents and the appeal of its dogma.”
Zorach v. Clauson (1952)

Governments must be neutral. Religious groups can operate released time programs and purchase land to build classrooms adjacent to school buildings. They cannot receive public land or buildings free of charge. The government, using its time and resources to facilitate the construction of religious facilities on public property, violates the law. Not only did it violate the law, but it also wasted local donations.

To understand what the City of Woodburn was doing for Lifewise Academy, watch all City Council meetings in which the topic was discussed. This is only what was publicly discussed. Public record requests are still pending. The full scope is still unknown.

If you see something, speak up.

I am still waiting for the City of Woodburn, Indiana, to fulfill or deny the records request. However, I did receive a letter from the mayor’s attorney that contained some interesting, and one would assume unnecessary, language.

…

As also previously indicated to you, the APRA does not set any specific time period for producing public records, but rather only for responding to the request. This letter should serve as the City’s initial response and acknowledgment of receipt of your July 6, 2026, request, not as a denial of said request. Despite the same, the City reserves the right to assert any and all defenses the City may have under the APRA or other applicable law, including but not limited to the right to deny your request, either in part or in whole, if it is found to be not in compliance with the APRA or outside its scope.

…

Kevin Bruns
Beers Mallers, LLP Attorneys at Law

Woodburn, IN, Records Request Response

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I added the highlighting to ensure the line stood out. This is merely a public records request to a public office. There is no lawsuit; there is no trial the City is defending itself against. The Indiana law referenced in the letter was created to stop people from fishing for records. This situation is very different. There are public records of construction on City property for a Lifewise building, and there are comments at public meetings about the construction. Requests for public records should not be treated as a legal attack on the City. But Woodburn appears to be on the defensive.

The East Allen County Schools (EACS) have also used legal means to prevent the release of records documenting their coordination with Lifewise Academy regarding the construction of a building on public property adjacent to the school. The approved plans show Lifewise using the school’s parking lot, and no plumbing is being installed in the Lifewise building, so it’s assumed Lifewise would use the school’s facilities.

The school district's response cites a letter from the Indiana Public Access Counselor. The letter suggests that searching an email system for keywords, dates, and other characteristics is a wild goose chase. In fact, most government agencies use Google or Microsoft email services. These platforms include built-in tools for record retention, search, and discovery. It is not a wild goose chase.

EACS Public Records Request Response

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EACS uses Microsoft Exchange for hosted email. The tools for record searches are built in, and results can be easily exported. The public records laws exist to support the public. Protecting the actions of public agencies behind these laws was not their intention.

The City of Woodburn, Indiana, and the local school district are providing public resources to a ministry and using all legal means to block or delay access to records about the project. There have been no responses from the City or School District regarding actions that violate Indiana law on public entities supporting released-time programs like Lifewise Academy.

Indiana State law 20-33-2-19 requires that RTRI programs “not be supported, in whole or in part, by public funds.”

The silence is probably the answer.

What is Lifewise Academy?

Lifewise Academy is a Christian ministry that removes students from school during the school day for Bible classes. This practice is commonly known as released time religious instruction (RTRI). Lifewise calls itself non-denominational, yet its curriculum is drawn from the Southern Baptist Convention. Lifewise describes itself as a locally run grassroots program, but much of the local funding goes to its corporate headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio, where it is used to lobby across the country to change laws and to force coordination between public schools and Lifewise.

Indiana State Law for Released Time Religious Instruction

In 2024, Lifewise Academy lobbied the Indiana legislature to amend state law, requiring public school districts to coordinate with Lifewise Academy. Before the change, districts could choose whether to coordinate with Lifewise. This didn’t mean that RTRI was prohibited or that parents couldn’t sign their children out for religious classes; it simply meant the school could choose not to participate or set its own rules and policies. Under the new law, all school districts are now required to coordinate with Lifewise.

Indiana State law 20-33-2-19 requires that RTRI programs “not be supported, in whole or in part, by public funds.” 

The City of Woodburn, Indiana, Goes Silent

The City of Woodburn, Indiana, approved the construction project, and work began on or about June 24, 2026. At the July 6, 2026, Woodburn City Council meeting, contractor Jake Gentz raised several issues with the project. The main issue was determining how to run power to the new building. The city has plans for future expansion of the property, and the placement of the building and utilities will not be allowed. After Gentz presented his information, a motion to table the discussion and not discuss anything was made. It was seconded and passed. The video is long. At the 5:15 mark, the city states that they should table the discussion.

Prior to this meeting, I sent the City of Woodburn a public records request. I believe this request has led the city to conclude that it should not discuss the project. The city acknowledged the request, but later, the city’s attorney required a different form to be completed to process it. That form has been returned, but the city now says it might deprioritize the request.

According to the city, construction of the Lifewise classroom is still progressing, but the city cannot discuss the project. The city has a construction company building on the water tower property and has decided it cannot answer the contractor's questions about the project it approved. All because I asked for public records. Let that sink in. When asked, the Mayor had no comment on whether the city was supporting a religious organization or violating Indiana state law.

The city’s response to my public records request is below.

City of Woodburn, IN, Response to Records Request

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East Allen County Schools Approves Use of Facilities

The East Allen County Schools Woodlan Elementary building is adjacent to the City of Woodburn property, where the Lifewise building is under construction. The plans indicate that changes to the parking lot will provide handicapped spaces for the Lifewise building. The plans also indicate that no water or sewer will be provided in the new building, and it can be assumed that Lifewise staff will use the school’s facilities for these purposes.

An after-school program called GLOW is managed and operated by Woodburn Missionary Church. Cherie Schlatter is the director of this program. She is also the Lifewise contact for the building permit. Attempts were made to ask Cherie how the school facilities were used by a religious organization, but no response was given.

A list of questions was sent to the school district, but as of this article's publication, no response has been received.

Building permit Lifewise Academy Woodburn

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Application And Submittal Documents

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Lifewise Academy Woodburn building project, plans, and site information.

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The City and School District have coordinated with Lifewise for two years to advance this project to its current stage. This story is probably far from over. I do not know how long the record requests will take, and I can only assume it will be completed as slowly as possible. If a local resident would like to submit their own request, the information I requested is below.

1. All emails in possession of the City of Woodburn with the domain lifewise.org between the dates of May 1, 2023, and July 6, 2026.

2. All communications in possession of the City of Woodburn discussing the placement of a structure at the address 4420 N Webster Rd, Woodburn, IN, between the dates May 1, 2023, and July 6, 2026

3. All building permits for 4420 N Webster Rd, Woodburn, IN, from May 1, 2023, to July 6, 2026.

4. All contracts, leases, memoranda of understanding, or memoranda of agreement with Lifewise Academy between the dates May 1, 2023, and July 6, 2026.

5. All communications from or to jakegentz@frontier.com between the dates of May 1, 2023 and July 6, 2026.

6. All emails in possession of the City of Woodburn that contain the word “Lifewise” (case-insensitive) in the subject or body of the email between the dates of May 1, 2023, and July 6, 2026.

I located the building permits to allow the request to be removed. The City of Woodburn and the local school district are clearly using public resources, time, and money to support a religious organization. Going silent will not correct this issue. Public schools are not mission fields. Government entities are not permitted to provide financial support to religious entities. This is another example, in a long list, of Lifewise Academy ignoring the law.

The Law

Pennsylvania state law and the local board of education policies require parents to send statements to the district after every child’s absence.

“and that the parent or person in loco parentis shall, following each such absence, furnish in writing to the superintendent of the school district a statement attesting that the child did in fact attend the instruction and the dates and hours upon which such attendance took place.”

Section 1546 of the Pennsylvania School Code

”c. Following each absence, the person in parental relation shall submit a statement attesting that the student attended the instruction, and the dates and hours of attendance.”

Pine-Richland Board of Education Policy 204 - Attendance

The original records request was very clear that no personal information should be visible in the records.

“Please redact all personally identifiable information. Although not required under the Right to Know laws, the purpose of this request is to confirm compliance with the school board policy.”

Respect Public Schools (RPS) filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The district issued a statement asserting that the records do not exist.

Pine Richland Attestation

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Full statement attesting to the lack of public records and explaining the district's interpretation of the law.

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The school district explained the lack of records. Because Lifewise Academy checks the child in and out, the district knows when the child attended, and the legal requirements are satisfied. The district interprets the law to mean that if it knows when the child left and returned to school, the law is satisfied. RPS believes this is an excuse to cover up noncompliance with state law.

The Pine-Richland district initially stated that the records could not be released. After an appeal was filed, the district provided a signed statement asserting that the records could not be provided because they do not exist. The district's handling of this request suggests an intent to conceal that the law was not being followed. If the district believed the law was being followed and that the records did not exist, it would have been easy to state this from the outset.

Parents’ Rights, Without Parent Involvement?

The concept of released time religious instruction has been described as a parents’ rights issue. The district will excuse a student “upon the written request of a parent or other person in loco parentis.” Parents are required to authorize enrollment, and the same language indicates that they must send a statement after each class. The state has put the parents in charge of validating the students’ attendance. Not the religious program.

The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (12982) indicated that requiring parents to submit their own statements to the school “may prove less than satisfactory in that some parents may fail to provide the necessary assurance of attendance.” (page 8) School districts are clearly supporting a religious entity in its violation of state law. Lifewise Academy has repeatedly shown that it does not understand or follow all laws and school policies. School districts follow hundreds of policies and thousands of laws. Lifewise has a few paragraphs of state law and school policy to comply with, yet it routinely fails to comply with them correctly.

School districts are allowing laws to be ignored. Lifewise is operating a program that is not in compliance with state law. A school district stating that records can’t be released, but then claiming the records never existed. Released-time religious instruction consistently attracts the worst decisions from those who support it.

In 1952, the Supreme Court ruled that RTRI is legal if the school and staff are neutral towards the religious program, it’s off school property, no public funds are used, and attendance is approved by the parents. Zorach v. Clauson held that RTRI is legal if the program models the one at issue in the case. After RTRI was officially declared legal, utilization began to decline to its current lowest level.

Many of the RTRI programs, by the 1940s, operated by releasing students during the last period of the school day. This model caused the least change to class schedules, limited the disruptions from students returning, and created a standard schedule for all students.

https://www.nytimes.com/1920/11/23/archives/hearing-is-closed-on-religious-hour-school-committee-will-consider.html?searchResultPosition=1
https://nyti.ms/4oyiWpq
https://www.nytimes.com/1941/09/25/archives/religious-study-days-changed.html?smid=url-share

Zorach stated that the religious classes occur at the end of class sessions.

Weekly reports of their attendance at such religious schools must be filed with their principal or teacher [par. 4]. Only one hour a week is to be allowed for such training, at the end of a class session [par. 5], and where more than one religious school is conducted, the hour of release shall be the same for all religious schools [par. 6].
Zorach v. Clauson (1952)

Students were released from the school and did not return. This is the reason for state laws and school board policies that require programs to track attendance and make that data available to the school. Lifewise Academy has created the image that, for decades, schools have operated by releasing students from classes. Lifewise says its “favorite” way to implement the program is to integrate it into the “specials” rotation.

Link to full presentation by Ben Ruprecht.

Gym, art, music, technology, library, and Lifewise. In an interview, Adam King, Director of Statewide Initiatives for Lifewise, said the Supreme Court ruled that RTRI can be included in the school’s “master schedule.” This is a made-up ruling he invented to convince the public that Lifewise can operate in its “favorite” way.

Lifewise’s desire to disrupt the school day while being integrated into the daily schedule was put on full display in Oldham County, Kentucky. Lifewise approached the district for approval and to coordinate a time for students to be released to Lifewise. Oldham County schools chose to release students during the last session of the day and allow the students to be sent home from Lifewise without returning to school. Lifewise refused this process and pushed back on the district. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that this was the legal and acceptable process for RTRI in schools.

These events lay bare the real intent of Lifewise Academy, to convert and coerce all students in the school to attend. Using ice cream parties, golden tickets, and any other incentives to boost enrollment. Lifewise Academy’s own employees state that the students are the best tool for increasing participation. Lifewise needs to disrupt the school day, so ALL students will notice.

The Secular Education Association has posted a video from the 2023 Lifewise National Summit, in which Lifewise also discusses using students to return to schools and recruit their classmates.

What Can Districts Do Wth This Information?

Depending on your state’s law, school districts may be required to coordinate a time that students can attend RTRI classes. In states that mandate RTRI, the end of the day, with the students being released home from the RTRI class, is the best option. If the state has no law mandating schools coordinate with RTRI programs, no policy is the best option. This allows for the parents and the RTRI program to coordinate a time if they wish. The parents sign the child out and facilitate the child’s attendance at the religious class.

First Liberty Institute attorney Matt Krause stated when testifying for Lifewise at the Ohio State House, “RTRI is not a right.” Regardless of state law and school board policy, there is no constitutional right to RTRI. School districts can provide a method, and Lifewise can choose to follow it or operate outside of school hours.

Lifewise Academy has attempted to coerce school districts, parents, and churches into believing that Lifewise programs are acting fully within the law by integrating into school schedules, using district buses, using school district property, and proselytizing to the student body. Lifewise does not care about parental rights, they are focused on recruiting as many students as possible.

The Alliance for Defending Freedom (ADF) says removing students from public schools is the best way for them to learn about religion. Someone should tell them about churches. I heard a rumor that many Christian churches hold services in the evenings or on weekends. Dedicating time to religious services, rather than squeezing a class into an elementary school period that requires moving students down the road and back in 45 minutes, is a better approach. Anyone who thinks disrupting the school day is a better way to learn about religion is not focused on teaching about religion; they are focused on disrupting the school day.

The ADF message also announced the recently passed Louisiana legislation (SB 112) requiring school districts to work with Lifewise Academy. The language of the bill opens the door for religious classes in school buildings during the school day.

This aligns with the ADF’s push to convince schools that released time can be conducted on school property, despite Supreme Court rulings and every state law mandating that released time be off school property. Read emails to two school districts indicating that the ADF says released time laws can be superseded by Equal Access Laws. This goes against every legal opinion on released time.

The portion of the letter discussing released time is below, along with a link to the full letter as a PDF.

ADF Equal Access RTRI Letter

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Lifewise called their movie “Off School Property,” but lobbies to put their programs into schools.

The ADF and Lifewise are bringing Bible classes into public schools, using public school resources. It’s coming. The signs are clear. The coordination is in plain sight. Speak to your school board members and representatives. Make sure they understand that laws allowing released time on school property are a legal liability and create an environment that permits the proselytization of students in public schools during the school day.

WyandotCARES is a released-time religious instruction (RTRI) program that operates in all public schools in Wyandot County, Ohio. RTRI is the legal framework established by a federal Supreme Court ruling that allows students to be released from school if the following stipulations are met.

• Must be off school district property.

• Privately funded, no public funds used.

• Parent permitted, students must opt in.

• The school district is neutral and neither coerces nor supports the program in any way.

Riverdale Local Schools coordinated with a religious organization to allow a Christian ministry to use school property during the regular school day. They have charged WyandotCARES less than the board-approved fees and have allowed district employees to participate in the program. All of these actions violate school board policy.

Board of Education Policies

Riverdale Local Schools Board Policy 5223 states that RTRI must be off district property and that no school personnel may promote attendance in the program. Board Policy 7510 states that the Superintendent must create a fee schedule and that the board must approve it. Board Policy 8800 states

“No matter how well intended, either official or unofficial sponsorship of religiously-oriented activities by the school are offensive to some and tend to supplant activities which should be the exclusive province of individual religious groups, churches, private organizations, or the family.”

Riverdale is sponsoring and supporting a religious program by ignoring board policies, granting preferential treatment to a religious organization, and permitting paid district employees to participate in the program.

District Advisor NEOLA Warns Against Bible Classes on School Property

WyandotCARES provided Riverdale with documentation to persuade the district that Bible classes on school property are legally permitted under equal access laws. The superintendent asked NEOLA, the district’s policy provider, whether this was correct. NEOLA stated that WyandotCARES is “confused with the law granting release time.” 

The letter from the Alliance for Defending Freedom is available below. It incorrectly cites the Federal Equal Access Act, which permitted student-led activities in school buildings for Junior High and High School students during non-instructional hours. WyandotCARES is not student-led, operates during the school day, and receives special treatment, including the ability to rent district property during the school day.

Alliance for Defending Freedom Equal Access Opinion

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Released-Time Programs and Equal Access to Government Facilities Opened for Public Use

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School districts pay NEOLA to draft policies for the district. Those policies are vetted by two independent law firms and come with a warranty from NEOLA. NEOLA will provide legal support to the district if it is challenged in court. If a school district chooses to ignore its own policies, NEOLA will not support the district. A district that ignores the advice of its own providers is misusing public funds. Opening itself to legal issues and potential lawsuits is a gross misuse of tax dollars.

Not Approved by The District Policy

Riverdale allows WyandotCARES to lease school property for $100 per year. The fee schedule for use of the district facilities is $10 per hour for school-related groups or $15 per hour for general non-profit groups. I do not know which category Riverdale Administration is placing WyandotCARES in. The school secretary told WyandotCARES that it was already approved minutes after their form was submitted.

Riverdale confirmed that WyandotCARES uses the building for more than five hours each week. At $15 per hour, that would amount to about $2,000 per year in rental fees. Charging the correct rent would end the special treatment the religious group receives, but it would not resolve the situation. Riverdale still allows WyandotCARES to operate on school district property, which is illegal under federal and state law.

Riverdale Staff Promote Religious Programs

An email from the district to WyandotCARES was addressed to Lydia Miller, WyandotCARES’ director, and to Ken Gray, the district’s Student and Parent Liaison.

Ken is also the pastor at Heritage Christian Union Church. Heritage Church has hosted training events for WyandotCARES, and Ken Gray routinely advertises the religious program. Ken has coordinated local churches to support WyandotCARES. Ken has worked to position WyandotCARES in the Riverdale district and to prevent Lifewise Academy from operating. Ken wrote a letter advising the community to trust him to make the right decisions about the religious classes offered in Riverdale schools. The district is placing a pastor on the payroll while actively violating federal and state law and the district's policies to support the pastor's goals.

Ken Gray Letter

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Letter from Ken Gray to Riverdale Community.

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Ken Gray is a district employee. District employees cannot promote released-time programs. Ken’s church supported released-time programs financially and through volunteers, training, and advertising. When Respect Public Schools reached out to Ken, he refused to answer any questions and directed them to School Ministries Ohio. School Ministries Ohio states that each program is independently run. Parents should expect this kind of runaround when asking questions unless they are already enrolled in the program.

Ken Gray’s personal goal of proselytizing to students is made possible by his paid position as Student and Parent Liaison with the school district. This is why the Federal Supreme Court case made it clear that school staff must remain neutral toward the religious program. Ohio law states, “No school personnel is involved with the program.” Riverdale policy states, “No District personnel shall be involved in the provision of religious instruction.”

Ken Gray was included in communications involving teachers, administration, and WyandotCARES. Riverdale teachers requested that WyandotCARES change its schedule and limit the removal of students from instructional time; Gray was included in this request. WyandotCARES suggested that Riverdale remove students “first thing in the morning,” when students are most attentive; Gray was included in this suggestion. Gray forwarded the district’s request for forms to be completed to WyandotCARES. Gray was included in discussions about adding WyandotCARES as a for-credit class in the high school.

For Credit Religious Classes

Riverdale has permitted WyandotCARES to offer a for-credit class to high school students for the 2026-2027 school year. Ohio statute allows districts to approve up to two credit hours for an RTRI class. WyandotCARES requested that Riverdale add the “Route 66” class to the school’s course catalog.

The course was approved and appears in the 2026-2027 catalog.

Riverdale Course Catalog 2026-2027

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Respect Public Schools inquired with Riverdale about the curriculum used for the “Christian Studies” class. No clear answer was provided. WyandotCARES is mentioned in the public records as using “Route 66.” There is a Bible study program called Route 66: Travel Through the Bible, and I assume this is the one being used. High School Principal Scott Maag stated that the district has no say in the curriculum and that the school is merely following the law and allowing WyandotCARES to operate. Maag is 100% incorrect. The district is required by state law to review the curriculum and approve the course of study based on its “secular criteria.”

Ohio law requires districts to review the curriculum, the instructor, and the course's number of hours. This requirement is set forth in Ohio Revised Code 3313.6022.

WyandotCARES indicates that students can earn 2 credits toward graduation by taking the same course for 4 consecutive years. WyandotCARES and the school’s course catalog also indicate that the class will meet 2-3 days each week. That is a 50% difference in class time. A class cannot be approved for credit if the school does not even know how often students will attend.

You cannot take the same class for credit more than once. Fine arts are the exception. Social studies classes are not fine arts. The curriculum used by Wyandot Cares appears to be recommended for grades 6-8.

The district did not review the curriculum as required by law. The number of days students will attend is unknown. The curriculum is intended for grades different from those for which the school is granting credit. The district did not follow the law or common sense by giving special treatment to a religious organization and to students who follow a specific religion.

Riverdale is a model for what can happen when a religious ministry is given open access to the public schools. Laws are broken. The school is exposed to legal issues. Teachers are forced to ask a church for access to the students. Local pastors are hired and become involved in the district's decisions. Public school buildings are not mission fields. Public schools are places where people of all faiths, or no faith, send their children to learn. Riverdale would do well to read and follow its own policies:

The latest document the school district provided, which they received from Lifewise, shows staff and volunteers with background checks from October 2023 to October 2024. The record request was sent on March 20, 2026. For 18 months, Lifewise and the school district failed to verify that Lifewise staff had BCI/FBI background checks. Another issue with the records Lifewise sent is that the completed criminal background checks were not BCI/FBI checks. They were completed using ProScreening, a third-party background check provider Lifewise uses.

The document Lifewise provided the school also indicates there have been no new staff or volunteers for almost two years. Lifewise is constantly recruiting new volunteers. The absence of new background checks can only be explained by Lifewise not providing the names to the school for the 2025-2026 school year, or by their no longer conducting the required background checks. Both scenarios indicate a lack of oversight and care for child safety.

Lifewise Academy does not comply with the law, and school districts do not hold Lifewise accountable. Lifewise is using the public school system as a mission field, using elementary school students as pawns to recruit their friends to attend Lifewise. Lifewise guarantees enrollment. Lifewise boasts large enrollment percentages. Parents would assume the laws and policies put in place would be followed, but they are not. Lifewise is an opening for anyone who wants access to children without the same level of oversight as public schools.

The Hillsdale Local Schools replied to the public records request that only one email communication existed between Lifewise. The school indicated that all communication was done in person and verbally. Let that sink in. The school is insisting that it was getting verbal confirmation that all Lifewise employees meet the school district's policy on criminal background checks. No validation, no verification, just a Lifewise person walking into the office and saying, “It’s done.”

Public records requests for Lifewise generally return anywhere from several hundred to thousands of emails. In my opinion, a school district indicating that a single email exists for a school year from Lifewise is a lie. Lifewise and the school's email about weather delays, schedule changes for state testing, students not attending due to illness or medical appointments, changes to weekly enrollment, students adding or dropping Lifewise, etc. Hillsdale Local Schools is covering up information in public records requests.

With the recent arrests and convictions of three personnel who were involved with Lifewise programs, it is unacceptable that school districts are choosing to ignore the child safety portions of the school’s policies that allow Lifewise Academy to operate.

Sto Rox Lifewise Academy MOU 25-26

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Memorandum of Agreement between Sto-Rox and Lifewise Academy (PDF)

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Lifewise Academy is a released time religious instruction (RTRI) company that removes students from public schools for Bible study. Lifewise operates differently based on state law and local school board policy. Lifewise consistently attempts to remove students from instructional periods for as many hours as the law allows.

“The present record indeed tells us that the school authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request.”

Zorach v. Clauson (1952)

The Supreme Court ruled that school districts must be neutral towards RTRI programs, and signing agreements to expand the program is not neutral. A public school system using its compulsory attendance of students to also specifically support a single religious viewpoint is unconstitutional.

Parental Requirements Ignored by District

The Sto-Rox School District board policy for RTRI says students can participate in the RTRI program if, “Following each absence, the person in parental relation shall submit a statement attesting that the student attended the instruction, and the dates and hours of attendance.”

A public records request to Sto-Rox revealed that no parent has submitted the required documentation. Allowing organizations to operate outside the requirements of the board of education is not a new scenario for Lifewise. I asked the superintendent whether the board of education had waived this requirement for Lifewise or if there was another reason it was not being followed. They did not provide any feedback.

It is essential that public schools be environments that are supportive of all religious viewpoints. The Sto-Rox district, with the support of Lifewise, has broken down that barrier while ignoring the policies they claim to fully support to keep Lifewise legal.

The school district is unofficially sponsoring Lifewise Academy. The district’s buses and drivers are transporting the students. This gives the appearance that the school is supporting the religious program. Because they are supporting the religious program.

Brad Case is a bus driver for South Knox. According to the district’s website, he drives bus number 16. Photos posted on the South Knox Lifewise Facebook page show bus 16 in use. The bus has the driver’s name on the side. This is without a doubt the school district’s bus.

A public school district providing buses to a religious program that removes students from school during the school day is a ridiculous scenario. The Supreme Court in Zorach v. Clauson ruled that released time Bible classes were legal, but that school districts had to remain neutral.

“The present record indeed tells us that the school authorities are neutral in this regard, and do no more than release students whose parents so request.”

Zorach v. Clauson (1952)

A school district that allows a religious group to use its school buses during school hours violates Zorach. Many groups argue that equal access laws permit access to school buildings or buses. These arguments are flawed given the Equal Access Act's basic facts. Equal access is granted to student-led groups outside regular school hours. Lifewise Academy is not student-led, and the use occurs during school hours.

If a religious program cannot function without the public school system’s coordination, logistics, and resources, it’s not neutral and is using the public school system as a crutch.

This is a developing story, and a public records request has been sent to the South Knox School Corporation.

Wyandot Cares has been operating in the Carey Schools since 2006. Originally, students walked to a church close to the school. At some point, a vehicle was required for transportation. Social media posts from Wyandot Cares show Carey school buses being used in 2018.

Emails from Wyandot Cares to the school indicate that the school administration knew the school’s buses were being used. Lydia Miller, Director of Wyandot Cares, provided the school with its own policy in an email and then explained how she thought she could work around it to keep it legal. Whoever suggested this would be legal needs to be fired.

The school’s RTRI policy states: (policy 5223)

“Transportation of students to and from released time instruction is the complete responsibility of the sponsoring entity, the parent, guardian, and/or student. The Board, its members, and employees are immune from liability for any injuries arising from transportation to and from released time instruction. Further, no Board funds will be expended for, and no District personnel shall be involved in, the provision of religious instruction.”

Wyandot Cares’ interpretation of the policy is that as long as the school doesn’t offer the bus, it’s legal. The school administration agreed and told Wyandot Cares to contact the transportation coordinator directly. District staff were aware of the relationship between Wyandot Cares. For at least 5 years, the district has allowed a third party to use its buses for free, which is so insane I can’t even fathom how no one noticed.

If you run an organization that needs a bus during the day, call Carey Schools; they will hook you up. All joking aside. Who insured the buses during this time? Who verified the drivers’ credentials? Did they always use the school’s drivers, their own, or a mix? A district operating in direct violation of its own policies. If something were to happen to a student or a bus, it’s not clear who would be held liable, and that is a huge problem.

Schedules Support Religious Students

In addition to the misuse of school property, the district allowed Wyandot Cares to set the schedule on days with a 2-hour delay. Again. A religious organization is setting the policies for how a school runs its schedules. When Wyandot Cares first began offering its class in the Carey schools, the district said that students not participating in the religious program would not have their education affected.

The practice of stopping instructional time for students not attending the religious instruction is why RTRI has become a growing issue in schools. 19 years later, the same process is happening in the Carey schools. During the 2-hour delays, the schools were not going to send students out for religious instruction, but Wyandot Cares asked whether they could still do so, and the schools changed their plans. At the request of a religious organization, the schedules of all students were impacted.

Parents who choose to have their child miss class for religious instruction have now affected the instruction of those who do attend. The Carey schools have chosen to base when students receive instruction on the family’s religious choice. Ohio law and the Carey school policies for RTRI state, “The student assumes responsibility for any missed schoolwork.” The workaround the schools have implemented, to the benefit of families who have chosen religious instruction, is to stop instruction and forgo lessons students would miss.

Wyandot Cares was contacted for a comment about the article. No response was received.

A public records request to Mohawk Local Schools (Sycamore, OH) revealed that Wyandot Cares, a local RTRI program, and School Ministries, the national organization that assists Wyandot Cares, are distributing a paper from ADF in hopes of establishing Bible classes in the schools and/or using the school buses for transportation. The legal opinion aligns with the Equal Access Act rulings, which granted religious and non-religious student-led clubs equal access to secondary schools during non-instructional time.

The email from Wyandot Cares says Equal Access laws supersede released time laws. There is no mention of McCollum v. Board of Education (1948) or Zorach v. Clauson (1952), the two Supreme Court cases that specifically address released time programs. Zorach is quoted by every single released time program in the country. The goal of RTRI programs is to force public schools to offer Bible classes IN the schools.

In the public records, School Ministries identified two school districts that allowed a religious program to operate during the school day. Riverdale Local Schools and Conotton Valley Union Local Schools. Both districts allow a third-party organization to enter the school and teach Bible classes to students during the school day. The program is not student-led. This violates the Equal Access laws and also the school’s own policy for building access.

Legal Decisions

The ADF letter claims equal access laws allow released time during the school day. But the rulings they cite and the associated opinions all refer to after-school programs, not during the school day.

The following information is from LifeWise Exposed.

The Supreme Court rulings of Lamb’s Chapel v. Center Moriches (1993) and Good News Club v. Milford Central School (2001) both held that religious groups cannot be excluded from public school facilities when other community groups are allowed equal access. But those rulings share an important limitation — they explicitly apply to equal access to school facilities after school hours.

“The showing of this film series would not have been during school hours, would not have been sponsored by the school, and would have been open to the public, not just to church members. The District property had repeatedly been used by a wide variety of private organizations. Under these circumstances, as in Widmar, there would have been no realistic danger that the community would think that the District was endorsing religion or any particular creed, and any benefit to religion or to the Church would have been no more than incidental.”

Good News Club directly references Lamb’s Chapel in its majority opinion:

“As in Lamb’s Chapel, the Club’s meetings were to be held after school hours, not sponsored by the school, and open to any student who obtained parental consent, not just to Club members.”

Riverdale Local Schools

Riverdale Policy 5840 - Student Groups
“It is the policy of the Board of Education that student groups be recognized as authorized school organizations only if they are approved by the school administration, sponsored by school-approved personnel, composed of members of the current student body, hold the majority of their meetings at school, and have established aims which are educational in nature.”

Wyandot Cares is a registered non-profit that operates RTRI classes with the help of School Ministries. Wyandot Cares is not a student-led program. They hire teachers, volunteers, and other staff to support the organization. Students do not lead the classes or facilitate the program in any way. Wyndot Care’s website indicates they operate “off campus DURING the school day.” This is clearly for marketing purposes only and does not reflect the organization’s true intentions.

Riverdale Schools received $100 a year from Wyandot Cares to rent a room from the school. No contract was found by the school between 2021 and 2026. Only payments for the last three years could be located. School board policy requires that a schedule of fees be maintained by the superintendent, but none was provided. Board policy also states that use of the premises is allowed only outside regular school hours. It is not clear what the district charges other groups to rent space at the school, either during the school day or after hours.

Riverdale Policy 7510 - USE OF DISTRICT PREMISES
“For purposes of this policy, the terms “school premises” or “premises” refers to all indoor and outdoor structures, facilities, and land owned, rented, or leased by the Board. The term “non-school hours” refers to times prior to and after regular classroom instruction on a day that school is in session, and any day that school is not in session, including weekends, holidays, and vacation breaks.”

The district and Wyandot Cares both violated the law and school policy for years, creating a school-sponsored, taxpayer-funded religious program. Add to this that the district allowed staff and volunteers from the religious program onto school property during the school day, without conducting any background checks or vetting, or having any say in the hiring process. There was no contract with the outside organization, and the district’s insurance policy would not cover any liability. And the district did not validate the third-party organization’s insurance.

Conotton Valley Union Local Schools

The situation at Conotton Valley Union Local Schools was similar to that at Riverdale. Classes operated in the library during lunchtime. Students could attend the religious program run by a non-profit called Imagine School Ministries, which is also associated with the national School Ministries organization.

Administration confirmed that Conotton Valley does, in fact, allow the program to operate in the Library. The board of education approved rent of $50 each day the room is used. The school has staff who will monitor the class so they are aware of what is being taught. The school does not want it to be indoctrination, and they feel it’s not being done that way. The program was compared to Lifewise Academy, and it was made clear that it differs significantly from Lifewise because Imagine School Ministries does not indoctrinate students. This was part of the administration’s reasoning for allowing the program on school property. The school claimed to monitor the religious classes by having administrative staff sit in on them. This also suggests that the school administration sat in on Lifewise Academy classes and is now specifically choosing which religious programs are allowed in the school building based on the content of those classes.

The school district should never decide what a religious group can or cannot say to those gathered to worship. A government entity should not be checking into religious groups and deciding which ones can operate in the school. The administration allowed the school building to become a place where the school sponsored religion, and not an environment where religion is neutral. The school is placing a single religious viewpoint into the school.

School districts cannot allow an outside organization to rent a room and hold a religious class on the school property during school hours. School board policy for Conotton Valley states:

7510 - USE OF DISTRICT PREMISES
… H. Community organizations or groups of individuals primarily comprised of District residents/members of the community, including students (during non-school hours) and employees (when not working in the scope of their employment) formed or gathered for
1. charitable,
2. civic,
3. social,
4. religious, …

The phrase “during non-school hours” is the key to this policy and the religious classes. The school and the ministry are violating the policy by allowing a religious group to use the district premises during school hours.

It is clear that School Ministries has an agenda of reaching as many students as possible, even if it requires them to violate the law. School Ministries is not alone in this endeavor. Lifewise Academy also operates programs on school property and has used the same “Equal Access” laws as School Ministries. In emails between Lifewise CEO Joel Penton and his staff, he instructs them to work with School Ministries and another released time program, Bible2School.

Other School Districts

We have previously reported on Elmwood Local Schools and Newton Local Schools, which allowed Bible classes to be held on school district property. Other districts that also allow released time programs on the school property are Buckeye Valley Local School District (Delaware, OH), Benjamin Logan Local Schools (Bellefontaine, OH), Culver Community Schools Corporation (Culver, Indiana), Delphi Community Elementary School (Delphi, Indiana), and Waynedale Local School District (Apple Creek, Ohio).

The coordinated effort and similar legal opinions, when questioned about operating illegally on school property, show that these programs are not operating in a bubble. When Lifewise Academy began facing pushback from school districts and boards of education, it reached out to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who sent a letter to 600 school districts urging them to cooperate with released time programs. Dave Yost is stepping down from the Ohio AG position and will be working for Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization that has been assisting released time programs in breaking the law and operating on school grounds.

Ohio has been the epicenter for released time programs for fundamentalist Christian churches, and with the help of Dave Yost, it appears the situation for public schools will look even worse. Christian nationalism will be coming even faster IN a school near you.

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