Lifewise Academy Is Forced Into Schools Due to Changing State Laws

Lifewise Academy claims they have changed release time laws in 8 states over 18 months.

Lifewise Academy has lobbied state legislatures through 3rd-party lobbyists, its employees, public school employees, and parents. The result can be summed up by a video posted on March 7, 2026, on LinkedIn. In 18 months, Lifewise Academy has changed the laws in 8 states from “may” to “shall,” requiring schools to coordinate with them.

Lifewise will frame these changes in law as a parental rights issue, but parents have always been able to submit a request to the school and sign their children out for religious instruction. This will not impact attendance or truancy. The Supreme Court ruled on this in 1948 and 1952. The changes Lifewise is implementing force public schools to cooperate with Lifewise, adjust schedules, and assist in releasing students. Release time religious instruction is not a right, and forcing school districts to facilitate release time programs violates the legal authority of public schools.

Attorney Matt Krause, from First Liberty Institute, testified at a hearing on release time legislation in Ohio that release time is not a right. First Liberty is a legal representative for Lifewise and also serves as counsel in the current lawsuit Lifewise has filed against the public schools in Everett, Washington.

The Secular Education Association has created an extensive video that shows all the ways Lifewise has worked to persuade the government to pass laws in its favor. Take the time to watch or at least listen to it. They also have a bill tracker to see the status of legislation across the country.

View the Lifewise Academy map and read more at https://respectpublicschools.com/