Ohio gov signs law requiring schools to let students go to off-campus Bible classes
Provision was part of bill limiting sex education, affecting school health policies
A national effort to expand the availability of off-campus religious instruction to public-school students during the school day received a huge boost last week as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law a bill requiring school districts to make arrangements for such instruction when requested by parents.
Under the previous law, school districts could allow for released-time instruction, in which students are dismissed from their classes to attend religious classes off-campus, but they were not required to. Legislators started working on the change after a few school districts in suburban Columbus rescinded earlier approval for released-time instruction.
The bill appears to be the first state-level law signed this year to increase the exposure of students to religion.
The new law is an especially big win for LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based ministry that offers Bible-based instruction to thousands of students in Ohio, including a majority in some schools. LifeWise describes itself as interdenominational and says it is supported by “Christians from diverse theological backgrounds.” Its statement of faith puts it clearly within the fundamentalist/evangelical wing of Protestant Christianity, however.
LifeWise says it has no political agenda and that its classes “do not teach specifically about sexuality but we reflect on the teachings of the Bible to inform our response if students ask questions.”
LifeWise says it welcomes students and families from all faith orientations. The nonprofit LifeWise is funded by donations and offers the classes without charge.
According to Slate, LifeWise is expected to operate in more than 600 school districts in 30 states this school year.
Released-time religious instruction was determined to be constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 1952 Zorach v. Clauson decision. In the 6-3 ruling, the court said such instruction is permissible as long as it “involves neither religious instruction in public schools nor the expenditure of public funds.” The decision did not require schools to accommodate such programs, however.
It is unclear how many students nationally are enrolled in released-time programs, although one organization promoting them, Released Time Religious Education, said they number in the “hundreds of thousands.” Released-time programs are especially popular in Utah, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers instruction from church-owned buildings within easy walking distance of most of the state’s high schools, and in New York City, where synagogues offer programs for Jewish students.
Law also restricts sexuality education
The released-time provision newly approved in Ohio was part of House Bill 8, called the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which declares that “a parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent's child.” The new law also:
Requires that school districts “shall not inhibit parental access to the student’s education and health records maintained by the school.”
Prohibits any teaching about sexuality through the third grade.
Requires school districts, except in an emergency, to get parental permission before “providing any type of health care service to the student, including physical, mental, and behavioral health care services.”
Allows students to “be excused from instruction that includes sexuality content and be permitted to participate in an alternative assignment.”
HB 8 was approved by the Legislature in December along mostly partisan lines with Republican support and Democratic opposition. It had support from various religious and parental-rights groups; it was opposed by a major teachers’ union and a school counselors organization as well as some LGTBQ interests.