A: Yes! The concept of released time religious instruction has been upheld multiple times at the U.S. Supreme Court. Released time guidelines both guard against government establishment of any one religion and allow expression of the right to the “free exercise of religion,” also protected by the First Amendment.
A: Released time religious instruction (RTRI) creates an incredible opportunity for public school students to receive valuable religious and spiritual education during the existing hours provided by their school day. The Supreme Court ruling (Zorach v. Clauson, 1952) makes it both constitutional and legal for communities across the country to establish religious programs like LifeWise Academy that meet the three conditions outlined by the ruling: the programs are off school property, privately funded and parent permitted.
A student’s expressions of faith are safeguarded by the First Amendment, ensuring their right to free speech and the free exercise of religion, as long as these expressions don’t disrupt class or infringe on other students’ rights. Released time guidelines strike a perfect balance, preventing government endorsement of any single religion while upholding our cherished right to freely practice our faith.
A: This isn’t a fringe idea or loophole in the law; released time programs have a well-established history across the nation. More than half of the states in the U.S. have embraced released time laws, which speaks to their importance and widespread acceptance. These programs allow students to explore their faith during school hours, all within a legal framework that’s as solid as it is respectful of our nation’s values. It’s a testament to our society’s deep commitment to religious freedom, allowing students to engage in religious education in a way that’s both constitutionally sound and in keeping with our American ideals.
For over 70 years, this released time opportunity has been utilized on a small scale. LifeWise provides a replicable model that can be implemented by any community nationwide. A benefit of released time opportunities like LifeWise Academy is that everyone is welcome, but the program is entirely optional for families. Parents make the ultimate decision to enroll, or not to enroll, their student in a LifeWise program.
The Supreme Court endorsed released time because they recognized religious instruction as a cherished priority for many Americans, affirming their right to pursue it.
A: No, LifeWise is not affiliated with or supportive of any particular political party or figure. LifeWise is for all families regardless of political persuasion.
A: LifeWise Academy recognizes that the Bible was foundational to the forming of our society. We believe all students, regardless of religious background, can benefit from a greater understanding of such an influential book.
A: LifeWise Academy was founded in 2018 as a division of Stand For Truth, an event-based nonprofit ministry with a mission to reach public school students. The creation of LifeWise was inspired by a released time program in Van Wert, OH, which boasts a 95% participation rate among public elementary school students. Stand For Truth and the Van Wert released time program teamed up to create LifeWise Academy, launching the first two LifeWise programs in the fall of 2019. LifeWise Academy now serves more than 150 school districts nationwide.
A: LifeWise is complementary to existing before and after-school programs. The primary distinctive feature of LifeWise is that it operates during the school day, thereby engaging the students who are most unlikely to attend before and after-school programs due to transportation, extracurricular and other issues.
A: LifeWise offers a structured, “plug-n-play” model which provides communities all the tools to launch and maintain an effective program while limiting administrative duties. The proven model also lends credibility to school administrators, parents, donors and volunteers. Learn about how LifeWise relates to and works with existing released time programs HERE.
A: No, while classes are held during the school day, they do not interfere with children’s mandatory courses or extracurricular activities. The class schedule is set by school personnel in consultation with LifeWise representatives. Usually, LifeWise classes are scheduled as part of the “specials” rotation or during times when other elective courses are offered.
A: LifeWise is a Christian ministry not affiliated with any one denomination. Our programs are supported and organized by Christians from various theological backgrounds and denominations who come together to support and celebrate the mission of bringing Bible education to public school students during school hours.
Our programs focus on core themes of the Bible, what we refer to as the “main and plain things” of Scripture, and emphasize the gospel of Jesus Christ. These things are foundational to Christian belief and are widely agreed upon by the various denominations that support LifeWise Academy.
A: The LifeWise Curriculum, powered by The Gospel Project, utilizes the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) in its lessons and supplemental material. While LifeWise recommends the use of the CSB in the classroom for its balance of readability and accuracy, its use is not required.
A: The LifeWise curriculum is designed to take students through the entire Bible over five years, beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation. Each lesson reviews a Bible passage as well as a “Living LifeWise” character trait, such as respect, love, or kindness.
Powered by The Gospel Project, the LifeWise curriculum exists as part of a license agreement between Lifeway Publishing and LifeWise Academy. LifeWise Academy does not have legal rights to make the curriculum available to the public free of charge; however, anyone may request a temporary review of the full curriculum at lifewise.org/curriculum.
A: The Gospel Project lesson content and Bible passages remain unchanged in the LifeWise curriculum, while the language and organization of the lessons have been adjusted to present concepts in ways that public school students can easily understand. Character qualities and LifeWise branding have also been added to the original lessons.
A: The LifeWise curriculum exists as part of a license agreement between Lifeway Publishing and LifeWise Academy. LifeWise Academy does not have legal rights to make it available to the public free of charge. However, you may request a temporary review of the full curriculum on the curriculum page here.
A: The length of time and number of days per week students attend LifeWise varies from program to program. Each LifeWise program works with the school it serves to find the best rotation schedule for their situation.
A: Each LifeWise class differs in size depending on a number of scheduling and enrollment factors. However, the LifeWise adult-to-student ratio policy ensures safe and effective learning in every classroom.
A: LifeWise classrooms prioritize the safety and success of each student. Behavior that compromises either student safety or success is addressed through our redemptive behavior policy. Two adult volunteers aid the teacher in each classroom to assist with any behavioral issues.
A: LifeWise Academy maintains a high view of the authority of Scripture and we align ourselves with historic, orthodox Christian beliefs. We believe the storyline of Scripture that climaxes in the central gospel message, that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead. We believe this gospel is true and essential and announces the way by which sinners are reconciled to God.
A: A local Steering Committee first coordinates program details with school officials and then identifies a local Program Director and Board to lead the program long-term using resources and coaching from the LifeWise Support Center.
Who teaches the classes?
A: We carefully select and hire our teachers, considering their teaching experience and certifications as well as pastoral references to ensure their involvement and standing in the local church. Our teachers and volunteers also undergo a thorough background check and receive comprehensive training to ensure they are well-prepared to lead in the classroom and manage students.
What qualifications do LifeWise teachers have?
A: Local LifeWise leaders recruit and hire qualified teachers using the resources and coaching from the LifeWise Support Center.
What qualifies LifeWise instructors to teach the Bible? My pastor has a Masters of Divinity. Why should I trust LifeWise to correctly teach the Bible to my children?
A: Our program uses a curriculum that outlines instructional use and implementation. We conduct teacher training and have a robust support system to give our teachers the tools they need to successfully teach lessons. Many of our teachers are also former educators who understand instructional design and implementation.
While having an M.Div. is a valuable accomplishment, an individual doesn’t need to hold that level of education to conduct lessons provided by the LifeWise curriculum.
Additionally, we ask that classroom staff remain involved in their local churches and we recognize the continued Bible education taking place in the local church. That continued education supports the framework provided by our curriculum. We teach the main and plain things of Scripture through the curriculum which helps us to bring together denominational understandings and allows teachers from various denominations to come together in support of those things taught.
We also encourage students to discuss their lessons at home with their families and promote conversations between families and local churches and pastors where they can denominationally refine the beliefs developed and confirmed through the instructional lessons provided to and by our program.
What are the volunteer needs?
A: Volunteers are needed to walk the students to and from the school and assist in the classroom and help as needed.
A: The LifeWise Statement of Faith, Philosophy of Ministry and Team Member Conduct are designed to focus on the core tenets of the Christian faith, particularly the gospel. A special effort is made to avoid teaching an official position on secondary issues.
A: The very rare and minimal opposition we’ve seen has been based on misconceptions, misunderstanding and false information regarding the legality of released time and LifeWise. The most effective strategy in dealing with local opposition is to direct people to lifewise.org and encourage them to explore the site and watch the video.
A: Yes, we welcome and encourage the support of churches from a variety of denominations. LifeWise does not delve into the finer points of doctrine with students. The curriculum focuses on the most basic and central concepts of Scripture, particularly the gospel. Additionally, the “what we believe” and “what we teach” sections of the LifeWise Statement of Faith are intentionally separated so that those who may have slightly different beliefs can still feel comfortable volunteering, knowing that we hold the same orthodox Christian beliefs.
A: Parents complete a LifeWise permission slip that is registered with the school office before their child may attend.
A: Enrollment is recorded at the program level. Our local program staff carefully tracks both student enrollment and attendance throughout the year. Program enrollment information is provided to our local schools when a new student enrolls and the full record of enrollment is made available to the schools when requested.
A: LifeWise is completely voluntary, and parents have the right to withdraw their child at any time for any reason.
A: Students either walk under the supervision of volunteer chaperones or are driven by bus or van to the off-site location.
A: Communities collaborate with LifeWise staff on a 10-step launch process. Learn more about the process here.
A: A variety of solutions have been used for LifeWise facilities. Four primary types of released time facilities:
Existing Space – Rental or donated use of a church or other business
Renovation – Purchase existing property, like a home, and remodel as necessary
New Build – Construction using a LifeWise model design or unique local design
Modular – Using a LifeWise semi-permanent modular building or unique local design
A: Local real estate is always owned locally. If necessary, the LifeWise Support Center can help a local program with the process of creating a local nonprofit for the purposes of owning real estate.
A: Student safety is our highest priority! We have policies and procedures that programs follow and programs assume responsibility for student safety as soon as students step out of their schools to attend LifeWise classes. We maintain appropriate employer, liability, auto, and property insurance coverage which extends to each of our programs.
A: As an organization, we believe in the inherent, God-given dignity of every person. This belief shapes our commitment to respecting and honoring all individuals we encounter. Our policies and procedures reflect this commitment, particularly in ensuring student safety and addressing accusations of misconduct with the utmost seriousness. We strictly adhere to laws and reporting practices related to any form of abuse or misconduct.
Our code of conduct, provided to every employee upon hire, clearly outlines appropriate behavior and protocols for various scenarios. Employees must acknowledge these policies before starting. We also maintain clear procedures for reporting misconduct, ensuring that employees, volunteers, board members, and victims know how to report incidents. Our staff understands that failure to report or comply with these policies may result in termination.
A: No, each local program is covered under the LifeWise, Inc. insurance policy paid for by the LifeWise Support Center.
NOTE: The cost of the following coverage for all local programs is paid by the LifeWise Support Center: Directors and Officers, Religious Freedom, Sexual Acts, Employment Practices, Property, Media Fallout, Medical Coverage, Income and Extra Expense and Donations. Building and Personal Property coverage, if applicable, is managed by the LifeWise Support Center, but the cost is passed along to the local program.
A: To ensure the safety of students and the integrity of the program, all LifeWise staff, Leadership Board members, and volunteers undergo a comprehensive background screening conducted by ProScreening upon hire and every three years thereafter.
Additionally, all Program Directors, Leadership Board members, teachers, drivers, and volunteers must complete Child Abuse Awareness and Mandated Reporting training upon hire and every three years. These practices align with industry standards.
A: We’re committed to ensuring the safety of the students entrusted to our program staff. We work diligently to address concerns brought to us by the community and to improve policies and procedures when needed.
LifeWise volunteers, staff, leadership, and board members undergo comprehensive background screenings upon hire and every three years thereafter. These screenings are conducted by ProScreening, a consumer reporting agency that is a member of the Professional Background Screening Association, an association established to promote high levels of ethics and performance standards for the screening industry. ProScreening is recognized and utilized by thousands of businesses and ministries across the country.
In addition to this, our program directors, leadership board members, teachers, volunteers, and drivers are required to complete Child Abuse Awareness and Mandated Reporting training upon hire and every three years. Unlike the public classroom where educators are often alone with their students, LifeWise policy requires the presence of multiple adults in a classroom at all times. In elementary classes, a teacher and at least two volunteers are present at all times and in middle and high school classes, we require teachers to be accompanied by at least one volunteer.
Our screening practices align with nonprofit industry standards and our policies are developed with student safety as the utmost priority. We continue to improve our practices and policies as opportunities become available.
A: No, each local program has 501c3 tax exempt status under the LifeWise umbrella.
A: The plug-and-play model of our program was developed for simplicity and sustainability. This model helps communities implement LifeWise Academy with appropriate community interest and support. We’ve created a process that sets communities up for success and has enabled us to retain 100% of the programs started across the country.
The national Support Center provides services and resources to reduce the administrative tasks and costs at the local level, ensuring that local programs can prioritize what’s most important: serving the students of their community with a Bible-based character education program.
A: No, each program uses the name “LifeWise Academy” with a school district or geographical surname, whichever is most appropriate (e.g., “LifeWise River View”).
A: The cost varies from location to location. Some of the most significant costs include:
Director/Teacher(s) – Local programs are encouraged, though not required, to hire a part-time paid Director and paid Teachers.
Facility/Transportation – These costs can vary greatly depending on whether a facility is donated, rented, purchased or built, and whether transportation to the off-site location is required.
Membership Fee – Curriculum, technological systems, liability insurance, background screenings, training, coaching, donation systems and receipting, etc. based on the number of students enrolled.
Miscellaneous – Classroom supplies; printing and postage for promotional materials, permission slips, thank-you notes, initial launch and training fees ($3,000), endowment contributions, etc.
NOTE: Our numbers indicate a program can operate within the cost range of $200-$400 per student per year depending mainly on local decisions regarding paid staff, facility and transportation.
A: Our programs have been met with generous private donations acquired through local fundraising efforts. One of the criteria for released time religious instruction programs is that the programs must be privately funded. We have never received taxpayer funds and are prohibited from doing so.
Our programs are free to schools and families because of generous communities. Every student can join their local LifeWise regardless of their financial situation, and the taxpayer funds provided to the local school aren’t affected.
A: Each LifeWise program is funded by private donations through local fundraising efforts. There is no cost to schools or participating families.
A: The LifeWise Support Center provides proven strategies, training and materials to local LifeWise leaders to effectively raise the necessary funds.
A: Local programs can receive donations via check or online through their dedicated donation page at lifewise.org/donate.
A: The donations will remain earmarked for the local area for one year from the date the launch is officially put on hold. If no additional donations for the local area are made after the one-year mark, funds raised will be redirected to the national launch fund. Additional donations will extend the one-year hold from the date of deposit.
A: No. LifeWise isn’t about politics and we aren’t connected to any political party, leader or movement. Our mission is to offer Bible education to public school students during school hours. LifeWise is grateful for every opportunity to share our mission, and any collaborations are done without making an endorsement of any particular views or practices.
A: The public school system exists in a pluralistic, religiously free environment so students attending LifeWise have been exposed to various worldviews and may have many questions regarding the Bible’s perspective on cultural issues, as well as faith and practice. Our program staff is prepared to carefully respond to difficult and sensitive questions with compassion, humility, and respect with the goal of having conversations that are both thoughtful and supportive.
A: No. We’re committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all students, staff and volunteers. We do not condone bullying or harassment in any form. If a situation is reported, we take it very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that appropriate actions are taken. Our priority is to maintain a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels valued. We recognize that not all families see released time religious instruction as valuable to their students’ education and our programs work diligently to remind students to be considerate of their classmates who do not attend LifeWise classes.
A: We welcome all students and families regardless of lifestyle, church affiliation, or faith orientation and we work to instill values in our students like love, respect and humility.
Our curriculum, and the program staff implementing it, do not teach specifically about sexuality but we reflect on the teachings of the Bible to inform our response if students ask questions.
Like most Christian organizations, we hold to traditional Christian values including the belief that sin in all forms separates people from God apart from Jesus Christ. Rooted in this biblical value system, program directors, teachers and volunteers are trained to respond to students’ questions about the Bible’s perspective on cultural issues first and foremost with compassion, humility and respect.
A: Teachers at LifeWise Academy may use a variety of fun incentives to inspire and cheer on their students as they strive for goals, meet expectations, or collaborate as a team. These thoughtful strategies are all about fostering a positive and engaging learning environment, and they’re a common practice in classrooms everywhere! It’s no secret that LifeWise students are having great experiences in their programs, but we encourage our programs to be thoughtful about how they incentivize students and trust programs to consider and respond to feedback as it’s received from their schools and communities.
A: As part of the process of establishing a LifeWise program, our program staff coordinates with school administration to find the most appropriate time for LifeWise classes to take place during the school day. We’re thankful that so many administrators have been able to provide time for students to participate in LifeWise classes during existing specials or electives.
School districts work with school staff to determine how the time will be used for non-participating students, and they do so in ways that are meaningful to both the educators and students. We’ve even received reports from educators who have said the time that they receive with non-participating students has allowed them to reinforce learning concepts with students who might require additional academic support.
A: We hear this often and we recognize the concern many have for our educators and their increasing workload and responsibility. We value our educators and believe there are many benefits of released time religious instruction realized in the classroom, like increased attendance and improved behavior! Additionally, our programs typically take place during existing specials or electives to ensure that students don’t miss essential and state-assessed coursework.
Many parents hold Bible education in the same high regard as other subjects. For those who can’t afford the cost of private religious school tuition or who value the public education their students receive, LifeWise offers a wonderful option that brings religious instruction right into their child’s school day.
A: Each school–program relationship has a unique plan for student transition and transportation. Some of our programs require students to take short bus rides from the school to the LifeWise building and others are a short walk away. The student transition plan is developed with these considerations in mind. Since most programs are held during existing special or elective times, student transitions to and from the LifeWise program blend with existing transitions. Our programs work closely with school administrators to determine the best route for LifeWise students to take out of and back into the building. These transitions are developed to be the least disruptive to other learners and are informed by existing safety plans and procedures.
A: Yes! If your student needs extra support in the classroom, please reach out to your local LifeWise program. Our LifeWise teachers are more than happy to connect with parents and guardians to address any information provided on permission forms and make sure each student’s unique needs are met with care.
A: No. LifeWise Academy partners with administrators and teachers as a friendly ally in the quest for improved character development, mental health and academic success. Our curriculum and implementation strategy have valuable Social-Emotional Learning components that help students become more self-aware, manage their emotions, develop social skills, and thoughtfully make decisions. We regularly see student improvement in these areas and have received reports from families of these improvements being realized outside of the LifeWise classroom.
