Ohio lawmakers have been locked in the debate of the future of Christian Release Time Religious Instruction programs. RTRI programs were introduced in the early 20th century and allow students to receive an hour of religious instruction off campus during the day. The popular LifeWise program serves nearly 400 Ohio schools is at the center of the controversy.
These free programs provide public school students with Bible-themed games, instruction, and hands-on activities, all conducted off-school property during recess and lunch. Some parents want the programs thrown out over religious concerns while others want the program mandated across the state. At one school, that voted to withdraw from the program, parents are irate.
Jennifer Best, a member of the board explained her reasoning just can’t understand why this program, which is valuable to many families, can’t meet after school.” She added, “If we get to the point where there are two or three or four programs, and then all of a sudden the music world wants kids to take music lessons during school time, and then language lessons during school time, I just see it growing and getting out of hand.”
Ohio has been fertile ground for RTRIs. LifeWise started in 2019 in only 2 districts. By 2023 it grew to 325 programs in 12 states. Jennifer Johnson, a teacher at LifeWise, described their exponential growth earlier this year; “We only had second grade last year. This year, we have four grades – kindergarten, first, third and fourth. Potentially, in the future, we could have middle school and even high school. “
Regardless of affiliation parents must consent to their children to attend Release Time Religious Instruction programs. LifeWise, and other programs like it, only operate during student’s lunch and recess periods so no learning time is lost. Johnson described the time with students by saying ” We sing some songs, we do a prayer, we talk .”
This disagreement has fanned the flames of a statewide debate over RTRI. As it currently sits, this is an optional program that cannot accept public funds. A new bill introduced into the state House of representatives would make that mandatory. Ohio House Bill 445 is one of several bills introduced by Republicans to enshrine RTRI programs.
Gary Click, who sponsored the bill, describes it as creating “a level playing field and equal opportunity for all parents and students throughout Ohio regardless of a student’s zip code.” There is another bill introduced in the Senate. Neither piece of legislation has made it out of committee. There has been an uproar of both support and condemnation for these bills.
Jennifer Jury, LifeWise director of program advocacy, explained why LifeWise is important. “This was specifically something we had seen as a need. Since the public school doesn’t provide for a religious ed opportunity for most students, this was kind of a gap that LifeWise could step into and help families with,” said the spokeswoman. “So unfortunately, for Worthington students and Westerville students during the school day, that’s not an opportunity anymore.” The future of RTRIs has not been decided in Ohio, but it will undoubtedly be a heated debate going forward.