Thousands of parents now have freedom to choose Bible-based character education during public school day 

(COLUMBUS, OH – August 28, 2024) LifeWise Academy, a nonprofit providing Bible-based character instruction to public school students during school hours under religious released time laws, has announced that it will serve a record number of students this year. 

“We couldn’t be more thrilled that tens of thousands of students will learn school day Bible lessons that will build their character and better equip them to handle life’s many challenges,” said Joel Penton, CEO of LifeWise. “LifeWise’s explosive growth is a testament to the increasing demand from parents and educators who want to integrate faith into the school day because they understand the tremendous benefits it has on students and families.”  

Here’s a look at LifeWise by the numbers for the 2024-25 school year:

• 115,000 people have signed a petition indicating they want LifeWise in their community
• 5,000 school districts have people who want LifeWise in their area
• 50,000 students are projected to attend LifeWise classes
• 591 schools are confirmed to participate (a number that grows daily)
• 29 states from Alaska to Florida have a LifeWise program

Research shows that kids who are religious perform better academically and in life. A Thomas P. Miller study supports this finding, showing that students who participate in LifeWise have improved attendance and behavior. 

A LifeWise Academy/RMG Research national survey shows nearly 80 percent of Americans believe that behavior and discipline problems in schools have gotten worse and that moral and character education can effectively address the problem. 

Contact: press@lifewise.org

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About LifeWise Academy: LifeWise Academy is a nonprofit that provides Bible-based character education to public school students during school hours under released time religious instruction laws. Hundreds of communities have launched local LifeWise programs through a 10-step process that begins with collecting community signatures at lifewise.org.